CHARLOTTE, NC (WBNG) — The start of the 2025 college football season is right around the corner. Syracuse kicked off its unofficially beginning of the new year on Wednesday as head coach Fran Brown, and a collation of players spoke at ACC Media Days in Charlotte.
The Orange are coming off one of the team’s best seasons in years, finishing 10-3 in coach Brown’s first year at the helm. Syracuse is replacing some key pieces on its offense.
Quarterback Kyle McCord is now playing on Sundays in the NFL, and leading wide receiver Trebor Pena transferred in a surprise move to Penn State. Tight end Oronde Gadsden II was also selected in this year’s NFL draft. Also gone is two-time All-ACC running back LeQuint Allen.
Syracuse recently named LSU transfer Rickie Collins as the starter at quarterback for when camp opens in August. Collins’ starting job is not guaranteed though, as Notre Dame transfer Steve Angeli is also competing for the QB1 spot.
Cuse is reloading on the defensive side of the ball as well. Six of its top-10 tacklers from 2024 are not longer with the team. Likewise, the team lost KingJoseph Edwards to the transfer portal earlier this month. The 4-star edge rusher was the highest rated prospect recruited so far under coach Brown.
The 2025 schedule for Cuse is on-paper, one of the toughest in all of NCAA football. The Orange open up against the SEC’s Tennessee in the Aflac Kickoff game, in Atlanta. In total, Syracuse will face four teams from last year’s college football playoffs; Tennessee, Clemson, SMU, and Notre Dame. Additionally, during a three week stretch Cuse will go take on Georgia Tech, North Carolina, and Miami. Two of the three of those games are away from the JMA Wireless Dome.
Tune in at 6:00, 10:00, and 11:00pm to the Jeff Kies Auto SportsDesk for more on Syracuse Media Day, and to hear from head coach Fran Brown!
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