Some people are not going to like this

[MSOrange]

We lost a ton of talent on D, which was our weakness last year. Between having little faith in ERob and the talent lost, it is hard seeing the D being any better.

I suppose the STs can't be worse? We better hope so. Lots of potential room for improvement here.

Last year we were able to extend a ton of drives with big 3rd down conversions. When we lose all of those pieces that we did, we cannot expect similar results. The one area we can and will need improvement is the running game. That will be the key to our season IMO.

We were a play or two away from 7-5 last season against a much much much weaker schedule. The margin for error was very small. It worked in our favor and we got to 9 Ws. We will need things to break our way again this year just to get to 7-5 IMO.

I agree with a lot of this. I was watching one of the season recap shows a few weeks ago on either YouTube or the ESPN app and forgot how many games we had that really could have gone either way that we pulled out. A lot of that had to do with Kyle. I'm excited about Angeli but those are big shoes to fill. Plus as you mention we really need the D and ST to improve. Right now I'm thinking 7-5 also, and I wouldn't consider that a bad season with this schedule and I'm still really excited about the future.

 

[HRE Otto IV]

I agree with a lot of this. I was watching one of the season recap shows a few weeks ago on either YouTube or the ESPN app and forgot how many games we had that really could have gone either way that we pulled out. A lot of that had to do with Kyle. I'm excited about Angeli but those are big shoes to fill. Plus as you mention we really need the D and ST to improve. Right now I'm thinking 7-5 also, and I wouldn't consider that a bad season with this schedule and I'm still really excited about the future.

Kyle and LQA willed us to a few victories. Plus how many clutch catches did our 3 main WRs (who are all gone) have? Also how many sacks did we avoid last year because of Kyle? We cannot afford to overcome negative plays. All of the above will be hard to replace. Especially with players who have little game experience.

That being said if we can get the running game going, we could push for another 8+ W season. But IMO we cannot play the same style that we did last year and expect similar results.

 

[Cuse12]

I think mentally as a fan, you don’t want to see a .500 record again anytime soon. That was like the staple of the previous regime, and I think to show upward improvement we really want to see 7-5 as the floor. My gut tells me we will be 7-5 or 8-4. I think the culture is different and I expect some guys to show up out of nowhere and be pleasantly surprised.

 

[Comstock44]

Bowl Game or Bust in 2025.

 

[AngryOtto]

No one knows how the season is going to turn out. I know this is a speculation thread but people need to change their perspective a little. I know it’s hard after the experiencing the downward spiral prior to Fran.
Remember every team we play lost players and added players. No one knows how these teams are going to develop or gel. We are similarly situated.
We lost a lot of talent but unlike years past we have a lot more depth. We also brought in a lot of higher end players from the portal.
Do we know how it is going to turn out no but last year at this time did anyone predict 10 wins.
I trust Fran and the coaches. Even after spring ball Fran went out and looked to improve weaknesses. Went out and got 4 oline all highly rated. Went out and got a speed receiver to replace Pena. Got Rooks for Watson. Add a qb that has some game experience. Do we know how it will all work out, no, but it’s no different than last year.
People should have a little faith, enjoy the summer and be excited that camp opens in less than a month.

 

[upperdeck]

Sure games could have gone either way last year. But on the field watching the games we were the better team 12 out of 13. Our newness led to some games being harder and some games being blown. We had late double digit leads in many of them as well.

Will the leaders we lost set us back too much? Who knows.

Tenn game one. Not convinced they will be a great team.
Clemson would be a shock to win
SMU. no idea, but they also had many games go down to the wire
Miami is poorly coached as always and who knows how Beck turns out
ND. maybe we are this years N. Ill for them.

every other game is winnable and the talent wont be dominate over ours

If we get to 3-3 anything can happen.

 

[Niastri]

We entrenched Cuse fans subscribe to this.

Fran, the staff and the team? I really don't think they do. Times they are a changing... we beat the Vols in the opener and the flood gates of optimism open.

Fran is the guy... opposing fan bases know it. My Michigan die hard buddy text me last night about Russell before I even checked here. "Thought UM had him and the Fran stuffed us in a locker"

The big thing would be beating Tennessee virtual road game and going into the Clemson game 3-0. That would set us up to be highly ranked and the rest of the season will just be gravy after that.

It would be great if we have only losses to great teams, with no What losses.

 

[SU94]

Sure games could have gone either way last year. But on the field watching the games we were the better team 12 out of 13. Our newness led to some games being harder and some games being blown. We had late double digit leads in many of them as well.

Will the leaders we lost set us back too much? Who knows.

Tenn game one. Not convinced they will be a great team.
Clemson would be a shock to win
SMU. no idea, but they also had many games go down to the wire
Miami is poorly coached as always and who knows how Beck turns out
ND. maybe we are this years N. Ill for them.

every other game is winnable and the talent wont be dominate over ours

If we get to 3-3 anything can happen.

Good points all. The real problem is our toughest five games are all on the road. Our road schedule is biblically difficult. I hope we win them all, of course, but realistically, I see us picking off just one (Tennessee or Miami). Yes, I view the Tennessee game as a road game.

If this were Year 3 of Fran's regime, I'd be more buoyant, as I think so many of the more unrefined, Northeast athletes that he recruited need one more year to develop. It's all going to pay off, just need a little more time. Need some of Fran's homegrown talents (aka non-portal) to become upperclassmen. Then he will be off and running.

 

[PAcuse]

Anything can happen on any given day. Fran and the staff can always find a way to win.
They did make some critical mistakes last year, but let's hope they've learned from them.
At the start of last year, I had settled in expecting 7 wins, with 8 being a huge success. The schedule ended up being a lot harder than we expected.
A lot of things can change this season, as we have a lot of new pieces. Nixon will find a way to use them effectively.
If we have more Miami-type games and fewer Pitt-type games this season, it will help keep the momentum going.

 

[wfschrec]

We were 7-2 in one score games (really 6-2 because I don't consider GT a 1 score game because of that stupid onside kick, we dominated that game). This will be hard to duplicate but in looking at the schedule:

Tenn - biggest lost honestly was Samson to the NFL they were able to really run the ball and let Immaleavin manage games more than anything else. With both of them gone, Bru McCoy, Squirrel White and Pearce Jr gone I see Tennessee taking a step back and I would consider this game a toss up. They will still be tough on D but I think the offense becomes more of a liability. Pace of game and our depth at LB and in the secondary is my big concern.

GT - made big upgrades in the portal if you believe in transfer grades but we have one thing on our side ... their coach is still a meathead ... again I see it as a toss up.

Miami - ton of talent but coached by Mario Cristounstable so I do think we can keep it interesting and possibly pull out a W just based on moronic coaching decisions. Martinez leaving helps as does the loss of Jacoby George and Restrepo. Possible toss up.

SMU - Jennings is back and his mobility frightens me outside of Clemson/ND this could be our toughest matchup. This will be a tough one ... they also dog walked 2/3rds of the ACC and gave Clemson all they could handle in the title game making a late run and forcing a game winning FG as time expired. Handled Pitt and Stanford two of the teams that beat us easily.

Clemson - loads of returning talent and stability at the QB position make this a real tough matchup and the returning talent on D is elite between Brown, Woods and others. This is actually a pivotal season for Dabo as this will be his best team since TLaw left.

Notre Dame - defense is nearing elite and they can run the ball very well, will CJ Carr be the real deal?

For those saying anywhere from 6-6 to 8-4 I can totally rationalize this.

 

[HRE Otto IV]

Anything can happen on any given day. Fran and the staff can always find a way to win.
They did make some critical mistakes last year, but let's hope they've learned from them.
At the start of last year, I had settled in expecting 7 wins, with 8 being a huge success. The schedule ended up being a lot harder than we expected.
A lot of things can change this season, as we have a lot of new pieces. Nixon will find a way to use them effectively.
If we have more Miami-type games and fewer Pitt-type games this season, it will help keep the momentum going.

I think we can all agree about any given day, but this year we need that to happen 5 times which is asking a lot.

We only played ONE Top 40 Sagarin team last year, and only three Top 50 teams. How is that a more difficult schedule than expected?

It is a different season but based off of last year's final rankings we play FIVE Top 25 teams with none of them being in the Dome. Even if a few of those teams drop this year, they will likely still be Top 50 and getting a W away from home is asking a lot.

 

[310Pigpen]

I’d be happy with 7-5 and being competitive in every game. Don’t want to see any blowouts.

 

[Eric15]

IMO, the first half (honestly maybe even the first quarter) of the Tennessee game is going to reveal a lot about this team.

If we go down 21-0 early, we clearly have problems.

If we play competitively, get sustained drives going, get stops, I'll feel good about the season's prospects even if we end up losing the game.

 

[wfschrec]

IMO, the first half (honestly maybe even the first quarter) of the Tennessee game is going to reveal a lot about this team.

If we go down 21-0 early, we clearly have problems.

If we play competitively, get sustained drives going, get stops, I'll feel good about the season's prospects even if we end up losing the game.

Honestly they have lost quite a bit (as have we) I feel the game is winnable ... its a matter of who gets the breaks.

 

[Dick_in_MI]

Do we have a tough climb this year? Of course we do. Still, I'm hoping for 7-5 (or better).

If we can't even bat .500 however, we will lose a lot of the buzz and hype that the program gained from last year. If we can't even manage a bid in one of the 6-6 Participation Trophy Bowls, it won't be merely a matter of a few fans saying "Hey, no problem. Ya know...2026!"

The view nationally and even within a portion of the fanbase will be "In 2024, despite a lousy defense, SU won 10 games via an easy schedule and the best passer in school history. Now that he (and others) are gone and the Orange had to face some real opponents, well it's back to the perception of 'same old, same old Syracuse "

I really don't want to have that happen.

 

[wfschrec]

Do we have a tough climb this year? Of course we do. Still, I'm hoping for 7-5.

If we can't even bat .500 however, we will lose a lot of the buzz and hype that the program gained from last year. If we can't even manage a bid in one of the 6-6 Participation Trophy Bowls, it won't be merely a matter of a few fans saying "Hey, no problem. Ya know...2026!"

The view nationally and even within a portion of the fanbase will be "In 2024, despite a lousy defense, SU won 10 games via an easy schedule and the best passer in school history. Now that he (and others) are gone and the Orange had to face some real opponents, well it's back to the perception of 'same old, same old Syracuse "

I really don't want to have that happen.

Be careful you might be seen as negative and get some folks upset around here LOL ...

 

[tep624]

I think real fans totally agree with you. Last years team has a lot of guys in NFL training camps this summer. Gill and Willis are ready to blow up. Pull off an upset or two and go to bowl sounds good to me.

I’m a real fan and I don’t agree with 6-6. At all.

 

[tep624]

We lost a ton of talent on D, which was our weakness last year. Between having little faith in ERob and the talent lost, it is hard seeing the D being any better.

I suppose the STs can't be worse? We better hope so. Lots of potential room for improvement here.

Last year we were able to extend a ton of drives with big 3rd down conversions. When we lose all of those pieces that we did, we cannot expect similar results. The one area we can and will need improvement is the running game. That will be the key to our season IMO.

We were a play or two away from 7-5 last season against a much much much weaker schedule. The margin for error was very small. It worked in our favor and we got to 9 Ws. We will need things to break our way again this year just to get to 7-5 IMO.

Talent aside, some of the issues we had last year were brand new systems on both sides of the ball. This being year 2 in those systems for half the roster, that’s going to help.

 

[tep624]

I predicted 9-3 last year before game 1 started (my tailgate friends on here are my witness). This year I'm predicting 8-4.

It sounds aggressive and overly optimistic in light of the schedule, I know. But with the same returning coaching staff, and Angeli plugging in to the same run and shoot system, what would have been 7-5 now gets notched up one more win.

I’m at 8 too. I see a path to it.

 

[VA Citrus]

I expect to go into every single game with a chance to win and the heart and talent to do just that. It is very possible we don't win all of them. The coaching staff had a year to gel and the talent level will be higher even if the players may be a little less experienced. No one is going to want to play us. No one is going to pencil in Syracuse for an easy win. Just remember how much trouble Clemson had beating all those Dino Babers' teams.

 

[hungrychuck]

[

QUOTE="GoSU96, post: 5457390, member: 114"]
But the Theme of the year is Survive in 25.

6-6 will be a big success this year.

The loss of returning starts, production, and leadership cannot be emphasized enough.

I believe this year is about building the core for next year. There is a lot of potential on the roster, but it’s a huge ask to expect a winning season against this schedule.

2026 is the year to thrive. ND, Clemson, SMU, Louisville, Cal, Toledo, New Hampshire at home. BC, Pitt, UNC, UVA, UConn on the road. Great home schedule, manageable road schedule. OL gels this year, find a Qb, influx of some high end depth in the 26 class and it could be an all timer.
[/QUOTE]

Yep, this is spot on.

 

[kingtidge]

I couldn't agree with you more. 6-6 is fine. 7-5 would be a dream.

I am in this camp.

 

[jr4750]

To highlight Go’s point, I want to flag this chart, which is quite scary:

 

[dan7800]

But he is, and you're right. 2026 will have a lot of pieces back (portal willing) and a much more favorable schedule.

With the portal, I only look at the current year.

 

[qdawgg]