The 2024 season of聽聽has brought unyielding excitement and a sense of pride to Orange fans near and far.
As the team prepares for the highly anticipated against Washington State on Dec. 27, their journey remains a testament to passion, perseverance and strategic brilliance鈥攁 celebration of the unyielding spirit of college football.
Here are 10 reasons to love the Syracuse Orange.
1. DART-Like Precision
鈥淭he success of my players is my No. 1 priority,鈥� says head coach Fran Brown.
When head coach Fran Brown arrived at Syracuse last fall, he wasted no time imparting his personal philosophy to his players. DART, which stands for 鈥渄etailed, accountable, relentless and tough,鈥� is Brown鈥檚 mantra. It鈥檚 also a noun that works like a verb. Brown is always moving鈥攐n the field, in his office and throughout the community.
鈥淭he success of my players is my No. 1 priority,鈥� says the former Georgia defensive backs coach.
To say that the Brown Era is off to a fast start is to flirt with understatement. Not since Paul Pasqualoni went 10-2 has a first-year head coach achieved a winning record with the Orange. Brown also is the third head coach since World War II to lead Syracuse to a bowl game during his first season, joining Pasqualoni (1991) and Scott Shafer (2013).
2. Pass-Happy Offense
Kyle McCord 鈥�25 is the Orange鈥檚 first 4,000-yard passer.
If anyone epitomizes Syracuse鈥檚 pass-happy offense, it鈥檚 senior quarterback . The five-star transfer from Ohio State, who committed to Syracuse hours after Brown鈥檚 appointment, has exceeded expectations. 鈥淚t was the best decision that I鈥檝e ever made in my life,鈥� McCord says.
The Orange鈥檚 first 4,000-yard passer, McCord leads the nation in passing yards and completions as well as ranks fifth in ACC history in passing yards. He also owns the program鈥檚 single season record for passing yards (4,326), completions (367) and touchdown passes (29).
His performance against UConn, where he completed 37 of 47 passes for a career-high 470 yards and two touchdowns, was the second-highest single-game total in Syracuse history.
3. Breathtaking Speed
Wide receiver Trebor Pe帽a 鈥�26 is integral to the Orange鈥檚 spread offense.
Much has been made about and his impressive athleticism and breathtaking speed, both of which have contributed to a breakout season for the redshirt junior.
A swift return man and slot receiver, Pe帽a leads the ACC and ranks 10th in the nation in receptions among wide receivers. He鈥檚 also a thousand-yard wideout and master of the Orange鈥檚 signature spread offense.
His decisive footwork鈥攁 holdover from his high school long jumping days鈥攎akes him adept at deep and shallow patterns. No surprise that the Northern Jersey native is McCord鈥檚 No. 1 target.
4. Breaking School Records
Running back LeQuint Allen 鈥�26 leads the ACC in total touchdowns.
A leader on and off the field, All-ACC junior running back is arguably the heart and soul of the Orange. Witness his four-touchdown, 129-yard performance against No. 25 UNLV in October, despite playing with what Brown described as a 鈥渂anged up鈥� lower left leg.
Allen has since shattered school records for most receptions in a season and in a career by a rusher. He currently ranks first in the ACC and 12th in the nation in total touchdowns (17).
Like Brown, Allen grew up in the shadow of Philly, where football culture runs deep. The unexpected death of Allen鈥檚 father in 2023 inspired him to establish a football camp in his hometown of Millville, New Jersey, and to add 鈥淛r.鈥� to his name on the back of his jersey. 鈥淚 want to be just like him鈥攁 role model,鈥� Allen says.
5. Touchdowns!
Wide receiver Jackson Meeks 鈥�26 鈥渃omes up big when we need him most,鈥� Brown says.
No sooner had Brown blazed a trail from Georgia to Syracuse than wide receiver followed suit. The Alabama native has injected some SEC grit into the Orange, as evidenced by his 73 catches for 911 yards and seven touchdowns.
鈥淗e comes up big when we need him most,鈥� says Brown of Meeks鈥� ability to deliver game-tying and go-ahead touchdowns.
The two-time national champion seems to get better each week, with most of his touchdowns and receptions having occurred in the past eight games. Fun fact: Meeks鈥� uncle is Detroit Lions defensive end Za鈥橠arius Smith.
6. Versatile Plays
Tight end Oronde Gadsden II 鈥�26 adds versatility to the Orange鈥檚 passing game.
Known for his long stride, large catch radius and quickness off the line, tight end adds versatility to the Orange鈥檚 passing game. His 69 catches for 860 yards this season puts him fourth in the nation. And with 1,920 total receiving yards, he鈥檚 10th on the program鈥檚 all-time list.
One of Gadsden鈥檚 most memorable performances this season took place against UNLV, where he posted 10 receptions and a career-high 142 yards. The Fort Lauderdale, Florida, native hopes to follow in the footsteps of his father, a former Miami Dolphins wide receiver. If drafted, Gadsden would comprise only the second father-son, wide receiver-tight end duo in NFL history.
7. Ring of Honor Inductions
The family of Syracuse coach Richard MacPherson at his Ring of Honor induction ceremony.
was posthumously inducted into Syracuse鈥檚 Ring of Honor on Nov. 23. Affectionately called 鈥淐oach Mac,鈥� he returned the Orange to national prominence in the 1980s with three bowl wins.
Many fans recall the fall of 1987, when MacPherson guided the Orange to their second unbeaten season in school history and then tied Auburn, 16-16, in the Sugar Bowl. He was the consensus pick for the national Coach of the Year, earning the honor from 12 different organizations.
鈥淚f they ever compare me to Dick MacPherson, I鈥檇 be thankful,鈥� says Brown of MacPherson, who subsequently coached the New England Patriots. The college Hall of Famer died in 2017.
8. Family Ties
Running back Will Nixon 鈥�26 is the son of Jeff Nixon, the Orange鈥檚 offensive coordinator and running backs coach.
The Orange have found unprecedented success in the transfer portal. place this year鈥檚 transfer recruiting class ninth in the nation. It鈥檚 both the highest-ranked recruiting class and the highest-rated freshman recruiting class in Orange history鈥攁nd the highest such class in the ACC. Credit 59 newcomers for enabling Syracuse to tie for fifth among Power 4 programs (i.e., the Big Ten, Big 12, ACC and SEC).
With new energy and talent comes a heightened sense of family. Literally. Running back , a redshirt junior from Waco, Texas, is the son of , the Orange鈥檚 offensive coordinator and running backs coach. Jeff works closely with co-offensive coordinator and tight ends coach , whose son, , is the Orange鈥檚 redshirt senior quarterback from San Jose, California.
9. Service With a Smile
Activities like the football program's Quad Walk (above) and student-athlete volunteerism have a positive impact on Syracuse's sports culture.
Brown requires his players to perform at least 30 hours of community service per year. Last spring, he teamed up with Syracuse-based Athletes Who Care (founded by Trustee ) to secure local volunteering opportunities. The football program then racked up some 2,000 volunteer hours, whose charitable economic impact was estimated at $20,000. The program has since become the 2024 winner of the 鈥楥use Cares Award for community service.
Linebacker Justin Barron 鈥�25 is a force on the field and in the community.
Brown and senior linebacker have been recognized for their charitable contributions by the American Football Coaches Association. Allen, in turn, is an ACC Top Six for Service honoree.
10. Building Success
The Orange are entering a new era of competitive excellence.
While fans revel in the $118 million transformation of the , the football program is stoked about renovations to the . The facility includes the Football Operations Center, which is currently under construction. The state-of-the-art facility will feature expanded sports medicine and student-athlete recovery spaces, a cafeteria, a locker room, position meeting rooms and coaches鈥� offices.
The complex also will house the 鈥淥ne Team鈥� Olympic Sports Center. Amenities include a world-class sports medicine hub, a student-athlete lounge and recovery space, a cafeteria, and a dining area.
