Syracuse falls to No. 24 Tennessee in season opener

ATLANTA – Syracuse Football stepped onto a big stage Saturday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium with hopes of knocking off a ranked opponent and building on the promise of last year’s 10-win season.

There were moments when the Orange showed that toughness and identity that second-year head coach Fran Brown preaches.

But it was missed tackles and No. 24 Tennessee’s timely responses that left Syracuse unable to capitalize on the moment in a 45-26 season-opening loss.

The Orange attempted to set a strong tone early, winning the coin toss and taking the ball first. Quarterback Steve Angeli, the Notre Dame transfer, struggled to settle in against Tennessee’s strong defensive front. He held on to the ball too long at times, ending drives before they could gain momentum. 

“Sacks are on us as an offense, but first and foremost they’re on me as the quarterback,” Angeli said. 

Tennessee wasn’t sharp out of the locker room either. The Vols dropped passes and fumbled twice, but Syracuse couldn’t seize it. Missed tackles turned what should have been short gains into big plays, including a third-and-long that stretched into a 20-yard pickup.

Linebacker Derek McDonald admitted the defense “didn’t tackle well enough today,” saying there were plays left out there because they “didn’t swarm to the ball.” 

One area where Syracuse did deliver was on fourth down. Brown made it clear he wouldn’t coach timid players, and the Orange converted three of four fourth-down attempts. Each extended a drive that ended in a touchdown, reinforcing the bold identity Brown wants. 

“It was just something that you had to do at that moment just because of the magnitude of the game and where the game could have went to,” Brown said. “You didn’t want the momentum to stay on their side … so I just told them go for it.” 

At the half, Syracuse trailed 31-14. Tennessee capitalized on defensive lapses and executed when it mattered most. Then came a dagger — Vols quarterback Joey Aguilar delivered a 73-yard bomb that blew the game open and erased Syracuse’s efforts. Tennessee’s ground game kept the Vols a step ahead. They piled up more than 200 rushing yards, consistently finding the edge and forcing Syracuse’s defense to chase. Combined with Aguilar’s arm, it gave Tennessee balance throughout every play. 

The second half showcased Syracuse’s best stretch of football. The offensive line began winning up front, and running backs broke free for consecutive 10-yard gains. Angeli found a rhythm with play-action, setting up drives that running back Yasin Willis capped with touchdowns. 

Willis said the key was “just really going back to the basics… you’ve got to be relentless and tough,” and his play backed it up. He was the catalyst as he carried the load on the ground, running through contact, and rushing for 91 yards with three touchdowns. In the red zone, his mindset was simple.  

“They can’t tackle me, that’s it. That’s my mentality,” Willis said. “Get through.”  

Alongside Willis, Johntay Cook II added 58 yards and a touchdown, making key catches. 

For a minute, it looked like Syracuse was back in the game. The ground game rolled, Willis ran with power and Cook II kept chains moving. 

But every Orange score was met with a Tennessee answer. Long runs after broken tackles and screens that slipped past defenders kept the Vols in control. 

By the end, Tennessee held the edge, but Syracuse’s second-half surge, fourth-down conversions, and reliance on its strengths showed the identity Brown is working to build.  

Syracuse starts 0-1, but it wasn’t an upset — it was a testament to toughness from a team that should not be counted out. A team that refuses to be intimidated. 

“The biggest thing is to keep fighting,” Angeli said. “The culture we have here at Syracuse, we’ve gone through a lot of adversity as individuals. Collectively, when we come together, I believe we have the strongest culture in the country.”