The Syracuse Orange (0-1) return to the JMA Dome for the 2025 home opener to welcome the Connecticut Huskies (1-0). Can the Orange beat the Huskies for the 6th straight time? Here’s what we are watching for on Saturday:
Kevin: Controlling the line of scrimmage
I am not convinced that the Syracuse offense needs to establish the run from the start. I always believe the offense should take what the defense gives them. No matter what plays are called, I want to see if the Syracuse offensive line push the UConn
defenders off the ball and create lanes on runs and a clean pocket on pass attempts. On the other side of the ball, Syracuse’s defensive front 7 needs to generate some pressure and make some plays in the backfield on Saturday.
Augie: Secondary Tackling
There is no denying that tackling was a struggle for the Orange during their trip down to Atlanta last weekend. Now, there are two ways that Syracuse can go about that. It can become a problem that the ‘Cuse are dealing with all season, or they can address the situation this weekend and show that it was just first game nerves, which can absolutely be present in an NFL stadium against a SEC opponent. Last year, Joe Fagnano threw the ball 48 times for UConn against Syracuse. I expect that to be the gameplan again this year and the secondary to be tested. On the other side of the ball, I expect Fran Brown to be aggressive. If he is able to make a statement, he is going to go for it. Syracuse has the talent to win this game, but the pesky Huskies are not going to go down quietly, and this matchup will come down to whoever can prevent a seven yard gain from turning into a seventeen yard one.
Dom: Redemption for the defense
Syracuse’s defense is coming off a season-opener where it allowed a touchdown in every quarter, 24 points in the first half and almost 500 yards of total offense to Tennessee. Obviously, that was an SEC-level offense, but UConn will be entering this game coming off a Week 1 performance where it dropped 59 points against Central Connecticut and its offense gained quite a bit of confidence, even if it was just an FCS opponent. A bounce back from the defense is, in general, the top story for the Orange. Otherwise, this will really have to be a game where the Orange just scores lights out from start to finish.
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What are you watching for in this one?
