The Syracuse Orange won ten games for the only the third time in the 21st century. However, Syracuse went through a lot of changes this offseason and lost some key pieces, so what can the college football world expect from Syracuse heading into 2025?
Coaching Staff Changes: Evaluating Syracuse’s Offseason Sideline Moves
Syracuse underwent some coaching staff changes, but for the most part kept their core together. Syracuse is returning offensive coordinator Jeff Nixon, who led the Orange to having the best passing attack in the country last year.
They are also returning defensive coordinator, Elijah Roberts, who is one of the top recruiters in the entire country.
The biggest loss for the Orange this offseason was WR coach Ross Douglas, who left for the same role with the Oregon Ducks. Douglas’ receiver room last year for the Orange combined for 3,208 yards last season, so losing him is definitely a blow to Syracuse’s offense.
Transfer Portal Impact: Key Additions and Losses for Syracuse Football
Syracuse saw some key transfer portal losses this offseason. The biggest loss for the Orange was freshman All-American defensive lineman Maraad Watson, who left Syracuse for Texas. Syracuse also lost Trebor Pena to Penn State, who was one of their leading receivers with just under 1,000 yards in 2024. All in all, the Orange saw 23 players leave throughout the offseason.
However, Syracuse also had some major pickups in the transfer portal. They brought in two quarterbacks who will compete throughout the fall to replace Kyle McCord’s replacement in LSU’s Rickie Collins and Notre Dame’s Steve Angeli. The Orange, who lost a ton of receiving production to the NFL and portal, also brought in Johntay Cook II, who is a former five-star receiver.
Syracuse also revamped their entire offensive line with three new potential starters being brought in. In total, Syracuse added 16 players this offseason through the portal.
Recruiting Class Review: How the Orange Stacked Up Nationally in 2025
In 2024, Fran Brown’s first offseason as head coach, he brought in one of the best recruiting classes in Syracuse history. That continued in 2025 as Syracuse finished with the 40th-best class in the country, a much higher mark than what the Orange are usually at.
Syracuse brought in 35 players, two of whom were four-stars and the rest were three-stars. It’s a really solid class for the Orange, and Fran Brown has continued to dominate the recruiting trail heading into 2026, as Syracuse has the 10th-best class in that cycle as of right now.
Quarterback Room Outlook: Depth, Development, and New Faces
After an amazing year of Kyle McCord, Syracuse is looking for their next quarterback, and there are two competing for the starting job. As mentioned earlier, LSU transfer Rickie Collins and Notre Dame transfer Steve Angeli will duel for the role of QB1 all fall. Both are solid and should help the Orange offense not face too much regression in 2025.
In terms of depth, Syracuse has sophomore Jakhari Williams and freshman Luke Carney on the roster, both of whom could potentially develop into starters for the Orange one day.
Biggest Offseason Wins and Misses for Fran Brown’s Program
Fran Brown’s most significant win this offseason was addressing team needs in the portal. He went out and replaced the talent he lost to the best of his ability. Bringing in Collins, Angeli, Cook, and three offensive linemen should help Syracuse in a big way next season.
Brown’s biggest miss was not keeping the young talent he had on the roster. Syracuse grabbed Maraad Watson and Marcellus Barnes in its 2024 class, both of whom started and balled out for the Orange as true freshmen. However, both of them hit the portal after one season, which Brown can’t let become a pattern if Syracuse is going to be a consistent ACC contender.
How Syracuse’s Offseason Sets the Stage for a Playoff Push in 2025
Unfortunately for the Orange, when you lose as much production as they did in one offseason, the next season isn’t going to be great. I don’t think Syracuse will have a losing record under Fran Brown, but I also don’t expect another ten-win season.
The Orange likely won’t come close to making the playoffs in 2025, but it should be a solid year that they can build on.
KEEP READING: UCLA Football Offseason Grade
Final Offseason Grade: Is Syracuse Set for Success in 2025?
As I mentioned earlier, I don’t think Syracuse will see super high-level success next year and will probably win seven or eight games. However, I do see this offseason as another year of Fran Brown laying the foundation of a winning program, and I expect Syracuse to break through and become a consistent ACC contender soon.
Overall, I give Syracuse’s offseason a B.
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