Syracuse, N.Y. — Fran Brown has accepted this is a rebuilding year for Syracuse football.

With quarterback Steve Angeli sidelined and bowl eligibility far from guaranteed, Saturday’s game at No. 7 Georgia Tech has gone from a highly anticipated rematch to a predicted blowout.

Ahead of the Orange’s penultimate road game of conference play, here are 10 things to know about Syracuse’s upcoming game against the Yellow Jackets:

What’s the skinny?

Brown has been known, at times, to be more honest than most coaches when speaking to the media. That continued Thursday when he revealed his belief that an unnamed young quarterback in the program who hasn’t stepped on the field could wind up being the best of the bunch.

The other quarterbacks on roster include Jakhari Williams —whom Carney surpassed to become Syracuse’s backup quarterback — and freshmen Rich Belin and Joseph Filardi.

The troubling part, though, was Brown saying Syracuse acquired Angeli in the post-spring transfer window because he knew his other quarterbacks weren’t ready to play.

“There’s other guys that’s in the program that play quarterback that aren’t ready either,” Brown said. “This is the reason that we went out to get Steve because I knew that these guys weren’t ready to go in to compete at quarterback right now.”

But, for now, Collins and Carney, whom Brown said has a package in the offense, are the two seeing the field.

“If Luke was ready to go in the game, with the performance that Rickie has had already, then Luke would have been already in the game,” Brown said Thursday during his weekly scheduled appearance on ESPN Radio.

Brown also said preserving Carney’s redshirt will not be a factor he weighs when deciding who to play.

“If we need to put him in, he gonna have to play,” Brown said.

Use those legs

Collins has been hellbent on proving he’s a passer since he arrived in Syracuse. He had just seven passing attempts in two seasons at Louisiana State and felt as though he wasn’t able to showcase his abilities in Baton Rouge.

However, he has struggled throwing the ball in 2025. He’s completing just 53.5% of his passes and has three more interceptions than passing touchdowns.

While every quarterback wants to prove he can throw, especially those with Collins’s background, he can’t voluntarily eliminate one of the best parts of his game. Collins is averaging 68.5 rushing yards on 9.1 yards per carry in his last two games.

He has looked calmer after using his legs, and those drives have led to the points that have been hard to come by for Syracuse lately. It even helped Collins go 6-of-7 in the play-action game with a touchdown against Pitt.

“Any way I can help get us a win, I’m gonna do it,” Collins said Tuesday. “Whatever it takes. If that means I have to rush for whatever the case or throw the ball for whatever the case.”

Still, he followed that up by saying he prefers to throw the ball and allow his receivers to be playmakers. Collins’ scrambling does Syracuse far less harm than him forcing throws. Moving forward, offensive coordinator Jeff Nixon needs to make that a point of emphasis for the young quarterback.

How about the Yellow Jackets?

Brent Key’s team has its highest Associated Press poll ranking since 2009 and is 7-0 for the first time since 1966.

With zero ranked teams remaining on its ACC schedule, Georgia Tech is on track to reach the ACC title game. It’d be Georgia Tech’s first appearance in Charlotte since losing to Florida State in 2014.

Syracuse has brought in former Massachusetts head coach Don Brown to help defensive coordinator Elijah Robinson. Brown, who has coached since 1977, has been known for his detail in blitzing.

Given Syracuse’s lack of pass rush, blitzing has been Syracuse’s best resource in affecting quarterbacks this season. The Orange had a season-high seven sacks against Pitt after blitzing on 52.9% of the Panthers’ dropbacks. Syracuse is two plays shy of blitzing on 50% of its opponents dropbacks this season.

Prior to Pitt, Syracuse had just eight sacks all season. With Brown, the blitz finally led to major success, even if Syracuse’s offense prevented the scoreboard from reflecting that.

“He definitely gave us some things that he thought we could use,” said redshirt junior safety Cornell Perry. “I think it worked out very well. There was some stuff we put in when he came and I think we all had a liking to what he was doing. His knowledge of the game has been helping us out.”

Redshirt sophomore defense end David Omopariola said Syracuse didn’t change its scheme but rather simplified it. Fran Brown said to expect Syracuse’s strategy against Pitt to become the normal for the Orange for the remainder of the season.

Help wanted

Left tackle has become the second-most important position behind quarterback in football. Unfortunately for Syracuse, it needs help at that position.

Redshirt sophomores Trevion Mack and Naquil Betrand have been splitting snaps at left tackle, and neither have stood out.

It isn’t an even split as Mack has 142 more snaps than Betrand, but the two have combined to make left tackle Syracuse’s worst position on the offensive line, according to Pro Football Focus.

Mack, who has battled a foot injury all season, leads all Syracuse linemen with four penalties. Betrand is just one behind him. Mack’s 52.7 pass-blocking grade is the worst in Syracuse’s rotation, and Betrand is tied with Joe Cruz for the rotation’s second-worst run blocking grade.

Mack told syracuse.com that he has been “living in and out of” Syracuse’s training room for treatment. With an unhealthy starter and a lackluster backup, Syracuse has trouble at quarterback and the position’s most important protector.

What the numbers say

Syracuse is winless in four games against Georgia Tech away from the JMA Dome. Syracuse is 0-2 at Bobby Dodd Stadium and 0-2 in neutral-site games against the Yellow Jackets.

The first loss was a 56-0 rout in 2013, Syracuse’s first year as an ACC member. The second loss came two seasons ago, when the Yellow Jackets won, 31-22. Syracuse never trailed in last season’s game, despite nearly blowing a 17-point lead. But history and the point spread suggest Georgia Tech will get its revenge Saturday.

Syracuse has been an underdog six times this season, including each of the last five games. The Orange has failed to cover in half of those games.

Starting center Austin Collins will miss Saturday’s game with a lower-body injury. Collins exited Syracuse’s loss to Pittsburgh last week after one play and never returned.

Joshua Miller, who replaced him for most of the game, is expected to start Saturday.

Freshman guard Byron Washington missed the game with a concussion. He is set to return against the Yellow Jackets.

Syracuse will also be without fullback/long snapper Fran Brown Jr. and defensive end/tight end Chase Simmons, according to the ACC availability report posted Thursday evening.

Brown Jr. handled long snaps for the field goal unit while Ethan Stangle handled punts. Stangle is expected to handle both Saturday.

Sophomore cornerback Davien Kerr, Syracuse’s leader in interceptions, is listed as questionable. He is joined by freshman wide receivers Darien Williams and Darius Johnson, left tackle Trevion Mack and linebacker Fatim Diggs.

Senior wide receiver Justus Ross-Simmons, who was limited last week with an ankle injury, is listed as probable. Ferguson, linebacker Gary Bryant III and tight end Dan Villari are also listed as questionable.

Georgia Tech defensive back Ahmari Harvey will miss his second consecutive game.

How to watch

Syracuse at Georgia Tech will air at noon on ESPN, which you can stream on DirecTV (free trial).

Live stream: DirecTV (free trial), fuboTV (free trial), Sling, Hulu + Live TV

Odds

The latest betting lines for Saturday’s game are as follows:

• Spread: Georgia Tech favored at -16.5
• Total (Over/Under): 53.5
• Moneyline Odds: Syracuse +600, Georgia Tech -1000

The odds and lines presented in this article are the best available from selected sports betting sites at the time of publication and are subject to change.

Betting is unavailable for in-state college teams in New York, but we’ve compiled some of the best introductory offers to help navigate your first bets from BetMGM, FanDuel, DraftKings, Bet365 and more.

BRENT AXE: Georgia Tech 28, Syracuse 17

CHRIS CARLSON: Georgia Tech 30, Syracuse 16

JAVON EDMONDS: Georgia Tech 34, Syracuse 14

NATE MINK: Syracuse 31, Georgia Tech 28

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