The 2025 season remains a lost cause for the Syracuse Orange, who enter their upcoming game versus Notre Dame on a six-game losing streak. Now, fans are learning a bit more about the quarterback situation
the rest of the way and the future for the team’s coordinators going forward.
During his press conference on Monday, coach Fran Brown said freshman Joseph Filardi is the “guy going in at quarterback” on Saturday, and fans can reasonably assume he will start for the Orange.
Filardi had his first career start on Oct. 31 versus North Carolina in favor of Rickie Collins. He finished 4/18 for 39 yards against the Tar Heels. The next week, Filardi checked in for Collins during the Orange’s last drive, where he was 3/3 for 39 yards and connected on a 17-yard touchdown pass to Elijah Washington-Baker.
“Joe should go in because being able to go down and put some points on the board,” Brown said. ”First time we had a touchdown in some weeks. It sucks saying that.”
That said, Brown also hinted that fans might get to see Luke Carney take the field either this week or next week. Carney, a three-star freshman according to a majority of the major recruiting sites, has so far appeared in three games for the Orange. Carney is 2/3 for 10 yards in the air and seven carries for 28 yards and a touchdown on the ground in the limited time he saw against Colgate, Pittsburgh and North Carolina.
Based on Brown’s remarks, it’s clear Syracuse would like to play Carney no more than four games, meaning he would be able to redshirt the 2025 season.
“I want Luke to be able to redshirt,” Brown said. “Luke may play this week or may play next week. I’m not really sure, but it seems like Joe right now.”
Syracuse lost its starting quarterback, Steve Angeli, to a torn Achilles on Sept. 20 versus Clemson, and the offense has spiraled for the Orange since. After Angeli went down with the injury, Collins took over for him under center. Through seven games (five as a starter), Collins is 97/181 (53.6%) for 1,042 yards, six TDs and 10 interceptions. He’s also ran 54 times for 126 yards and a score. Syracuse has not reached the 20-point mark in two months, and it had 10 in each of its last two games versus UNC and Miami.
Brown also provided some clarity on what his staff will look like beyond this season, verbally confirming offensive coordinator Jeff Nixon and defensive coordinator Elijah Robinson will “both be here next year.”
Both Nixon and Robinson are currently in their second seasons as coordinators for Brown, each of whom were hired when he took over as coach.
Syracuse is currently 3-7 overall and 1-6 against the ACC in 2025. The Orange are now off to South Bend to face the Fighting Irish, then will conclude their regular season at home versus Boston College on Nov. 29.
