Question number one for the 2025 Syracuse football season has been: who is going to be under center?
Over the summer, there was spirited discussion over who would lead the Orange against Tennessee when
their season kicked off in Atlanta. In the middle of the UConn game, the talk centered on potentially replacing Steve Angeli. Then Angeli tore his achilles on a rushing attempt at Clemson, making the hypothetical a reality.
That unfortunate injury should have settled any lingering questions about Syracuse’s quarterback situation for the remainder of the season. If Rickie Collins, reportedly the highest-paid quarterback on the roster, was healthy, the starting job would undoubtedly belong to him.
However, the seemingly obvious answer has not proven to be the case.
In the games that he was named the starter, Rickie Collins put up three points against Duke, threw three interceptions in back-to-back games against SMU and Pittsburgh, and could not get into any rhythm against Georgia Tech. Syracuse went 0-4 in those games and once again, and justifiably, Syracuse fans wanted to see change.
In the Pittsburgh game, Syracuse got a preview of freshman Luke Carney to start the second half, but like a movie preview, it was one of those short teasers that lasts about 30 seconds. Carney played for five snaps, barely was given the opportunity to throw the ball, and was promptly replaced by Collins once again.
Finally, late Halloween morning, Fran Brown broke his silence and made a decisive move. Out of seemingly nowhere, he announced that a freshman would start against UNC that evening, but not the one that the fans were expecting.
Instead of going back to Carney, Long Island native Joseph Filardi got the nod as Syracuse’s starting quarterback.
Filardi trotted onto the field with the offense for their opening drive to a warm ovation inside the Dome. Orange fans were eager to see the freshman succeed, but once the game began, reality hit hard. Filardi finished just 4-of-18 for 39 yards, 25 of which came on a flea flicker. He was sacked three times, looked rattled under pressure, and though he threw with confidence, his accuracy never materialized.
Filardi was replaced by Carney on the second drive of the second half, who was once again given an extremely limited role in his second appearance, and once again was unable to provide any offensive production.
The result of chaos under center: the Orange have lost five consecutive ACC games, and the schedule ahead does not get any easier as they head to 18th ranked Miami, and then 10th ranked Notre Dame before wrapping up with Boston College.
To add to the confusion, Luke Carney announced after the loss to North Carolina that he would be redshirting this year, giving him only one more potential appearance in the 2025 season.
So even though Steve Angeli is likely to return next season, Fran Brown needs to do something THIS season to prevent this level of “quarterback chaos” from returning in 2026.
And with all of this in mind, it begs the question: who does Fran Brown start at quarterback in the final three games of the season?
Well, one of those questions has already been answered. Coach Brown is turning back to Rickie Collins to lead Syracuse against Miami in Coral Gables this weekend.
But if that goes south once again, then what?
The quarterbacks who have taken the field in recent weeks have looked inexperienced, and that’s because they are, but their product on the field has just not been good enough, or provided the offense with anything to build on.
Luke Carney hasn’t shown enough to earn the starting job for this game. There still seems to be a lack of confidence in his ability to throw the ball, on top of which he has only one game left he can appear in before burning his redshirt.
Joseph Filardi was given a chance, and it is one thing to have first game nerves, but walking away with just four completions does not warrant a second chance leading the Orange and had to have hurt the confidence of the freshman.
With that in mind, it’s Jakhari time. Let’s see what the freshman from Macon, Georgia can do. He was ranked by ESPN as the 13th best dual threat quarterback in the 2024 class. If Collins struggles again, Fran Brown needs to turn to him.
You never know what opportunities may arise for the Orange in the transfer portal, but if Williams can finish the season strong, the Orange may have found a backup quarterback that they can rely on next season, and can potentially jump into the starting role if things go south.
Road games at Miami (even if he were to come in as a backup) and Notre Dame are among the most electric environments in college football, experiences that could not only be unforgettable, but also open doors for future opportunities under center.
It’s important to focus the remainder of the season on developing a player and making the most of the opportunities available. At this stage, the decision should come down to Collins and Williams, but realistically, Williams is the clear choice. Anything beyond that would be spreading resources too thin.
The final game against Boston College is one for the taking. Let Williams go out there, build confidence, and lead his team to a victory heading into 2026.
For as bad as the past month and a half has been for Orange fans, those at Chestnut Hill have witnessed worse. When the Eagles come to town, Syracuse should expect to be a favorite, and capitalize on the opportunity to end the season on a high note.
If all works out, Fran Brown and his staff have an opportunity to create some juice out of a basket of lemons and generate some much-needed momentum heading into next year. We could all use it.
Who do you think Syracuse should start at QB in the final games of the season?
