Today’s season-opening clash in Atlanta, the Aflac Kickoff Game, ended in a mistake-filled 45-26 loss. Tennessee, a playoff team in 2024, jumped on the Orange early with a 10-0 first quarter lead and never looked back. While the defense tightened up towards the end of the game and the Willis/Nixon running back duo gained second half ground, their controllable mishaps were costly against a top tier SEC squad.
- The defensive line issue isn’t going away
Tennessee rushed for 247 yards today, and commandeered momentum through a physical running attack. If names such as Star Thomas and Peyton Lewis are breaking through the second level for large games, what will happen against top ACC running backs in Jamal Haynes and Gideon Davidson? At the end of the year, Syracuse will visit Notre Dame, a team who consistently has a top offensive line group in the country, and Jeremiah Love who is widely considered the best back in this NFL Draft class. The Orange lost Fadil Diggs and Justin Barron to the NFL, and All-Freshman first teamer Maraad Watson to Texas, with these holes showing large in week 1.
- Patience, but Demetres Samuel Jr is going to be a stud
The 17-year-old freshman didn’t have a strong game in his college football debut by any means. He made many “Rookie mistakes” where the elite Tennessee receivers baited him into careless penalties. His on-ball coverage wasn’t that of a 5-star defensive back: Comeback routes created too much separation, and a second quarter deepshot touchdown highlighted that there will in fact be growing pains. However, even in a tough start, Samuel flashed brilliance on multiple close-route plays in addition to a crucial rezone breakup that forced the Vols to kick a field goal. He will improve throughout the season; Tennessee’s receiver corps is stronger than a typical ACC opponent.
- In a tough offensive game, the receiver corps looked relatively capable
The Orange faced PFF’s 11th highest ranked secondary today, but still managed to gain 274 yards in the air. Angeli went through his reads well and found open weapons; when he wasn’t being thrown on his backside by the Vols’ blitz, he looked in control. Johntay Cook II had an outstanding debut game: 111 yards and a goal-line score. Justus Ross-Simmons picked up where he left off in December’s Holiday Bowl with 111 yards on the day. Darrell Gill beat top-tier coverage in the second half for first downs. They aren’t the established names of Oronde Gadsen II and Trebor Pena, but this retooled receiver room showed positive signs this afternoon.
- The momentum struggles continue
In each of Syracuse’s three losses in 2024 (Stanford, Pitt, and Boston College), Syracuse failed to maintain their hard-earned momentum by backbreaking plays that sucked energy out the sideline. The same issues arose today, where some scattered bright spots were then immediately followed up by large Tennessee plays that kept the Orange behind the eight ball. A second quarter Syracuse touchdown was followed up by a 75-yard Volunteer laser. One of their few defensive stops turned into a penalty-filled offensive three-and-out. When the defense tightened up in the third quarter, the offense had multiple stumbles. While this game wasn’t ever truly in reach, their inability to capitalize on opportunities will hurt them in the ACC campaign.
- Syracuse wasn’t able to adapt during the game
Tennessee began the game by punching Syracuse in the mouth, scoring a field goal and forcing the Orange offense into a scattered offensive drive, and Syracuse was unable to react and make gameplan changes at multiple junctures. Volunteer defenders were able to freely blitz up the middle and get into Angeli’s grill; Head Coach Fran Brown didn’t use the eight man offensive lineman rotation enough to keep players rested and ready to block. While the defensive line was an unavoidable issue, an all-out blitz was only going to create more pressing issues by leaving defensive backs on an island. Their “Fixes” during the game just created an additional set of problems, they looked unprepared without a secondary plan to counteract the Vols’ moves.
Fans will look at the game schedule and see UCONN next week thinking: easy win. The Huskies are coming off of one of their best years in program history and have serious momentum with a 7.5 win line coming into this year. They played Syracuse close last season (SU won 31-24), and beat North Carolina in the Fenway Bowl. UCONN returns their quarterback among a number of critical players who know the system. Syracuse has a big week ahead to heal from the sting of this opening loss and prepare for the JMA Dome’s opener in a potential trap game.
