Fran Brown brought a renewed, electric edge to Syracuse football. The guy’s got a mantra-DART: detailed, accountable, relentless, and tough-and he’s not just talking the talk, he’s walking the walk. Brown not only dominates on the field, but off it too, signing with an NIL agency (a first for a college coach!) and introducing his clothing line. Brown’s inaugural season? An astonishing 38-22 win against Ohio, Syracuse’s highest since 2018. The Orange defeated three AP Top-25 squads, and each victory was over a bowl-eligible team. Quarterback Kyle McCord, who came over from Ohio State, broke records. He threw for a career-high 354 yards and four touchdowns, came in the top 10 in Heisman voting, and the offense featured four 60+ catch receivers, a rare feat nationally.

Losing stars is all part of the college football merry-go-round, but geez, Syracuse fans felt it in a big way this offseason. After all the hubbub Fran Brown brought in, the Orange lost some major talent, Jackson Meeks, Oronde Gadsden II, and, perhaps most agonizingly, quarterback Kyle McCord. And that leaves a gap in Syracuse’s blueprint. As noted by Jackson Holzer in the latest episode of Locked on Syracuse. “I think they’re in a very weird spot. This is my thought on Syracuse football right now. They are one of the toughest teams in the ACC, if not the country.” 

Jackson says, “They lost a lot of key players from a year ago. So did they really do a good job in replacing them? I guess we’ll find them i guess we’ll find out right. But at least on paper, right now, looking at the roster compared to last year. What I will say is I don’t know if it’s better or worse, but it’s definitely not as proven.” Syracuse’s roster in 2025? It’s filled with potential, but not nearly as experienced as the team from a year ago. The Orange, a year ago, had star power at every position: Kyle McCord was completing ACC passing records, LeQuint Allen was a touchdown machine, and Oronde Gadsden II was catching passes like a machine.

That group took Syracuse to a 10-3 record and Holiday Bowl win, and they just made some ripples in the NFL Draft. McCord, Gadsden, Meeks, Allen, and Fadil Diggs all got drafted, with others like Jackson Meeks signing as undrafted free agents.

“You also knew that Kyle McCord was a proven guy. (You) knew that Kyle McCord was most likely going to have a good year. Now, obviously, a lot of people around the country may have underestimated him from his time at Ohio State. But if you had been following along locked on Syracuse, I think you would have had fair expectations for Kyle McCord, and he actually ended up exceeding those expectations,” says Jackson.

Losing Jackson Meeks and Oronde Gadsden II certainly hurts Syracuse. Meeks was a one-year sensation: after barely getting on the field at Georgia, he burst at Syracuse with 78 receptions, 1,021 yards, and 7 touchdowns, and earned Second Team All-ACC honors and was a go-to receiver for Kyle McCord. But let’s discuss the man who made it happen: Kyle McCord. After a fairly dismal go at Ohio State, where he never really met expectations, McCord arrived at Syracuse with a promise, and, boy, did he deliver. McCord broke school records, ranked in the top 10 for the Heisman, and made everyone else better, including Meeks. McCord’s accuracy, composure, and leadership showed he’s not only a transfer but he’s the real deal. But Brown will not be able to have this luxury this year.

“They are a whole different team. It’s just the coaching staff is still pretty much the same, and then you had to get into the schedule as well….another huge reason why it is so hard to even estimate Syracuse for 2025.” This year’s Syracuse team is essentially a whole different team, and that’s why everyone’s having such a hard time trying to figure it out. The sole true constant is the coaching staff; Fran Brown and his staff return, with new player development chief (and NFL legend) Dwight Freeney, which is gigantic for continuity and culture. But on the field? Total reset, with last year’s stars all gone. Rickie Collins, the new quarterback, has skill but has not tested himself in the ACC.

And then there’s the schedule: it’s a monster. Syracuse has a more challenging schedule, with some ACC heavyweights and puzzling non-conference matchups, so it’s even more difficult to project how this new group will do.

From High School Star to Orange Contender

Let’s talk about Syracuse’s latest recruiting gem: four-star wide receiver Amare Gough.  6’1″, 175 pounds, Gough has rugged size and scorching speed; he clocked a 10.97 in the 100m dash, 22-2.5 in the long jump, and 44-4 in the triple jump during high school. Defensive backs are drenched pre-snap, in essence. On Thomas Jefferson High last season, he put up some impressive figures: 39 receptions, 893 yards, 12 touchdowns, averaging almost 23 yards per catch. That’s dynamite, game-shifting action.

What’s neat is that Gough wasn’t merely considering Syracuse as a fallback. He did have other opportunities at Virginia Tech, West Virginia, Wake Forest, and others. Yet after a visit to campus and getting a look at Fran Brown’s program firsthand-particularly in the wake of Syracuse’s bowl victory against Washington State-he was convinced. That December performance at Washington State? Gough torched it with highlight-reel moments that demonstrated he can perform under the lights, just what the Orange requires.

And the best part: Gough’s arrival is a boon for quarterback Steve Angeli, who’s fighting LSU transfer Rickie Collins for the starting QB position. Having a playmaking receiver like Gough in the wings? That’s like winning the lottery for Angeli and Syracuse’s offense. With a schedule featuring some of the nation’s toughest opponents, this young weapon might be the difference-maker.