Way-too-early 2026 opponent preview: The rare Syracuse sighting at Virginia

The ACC’s pair of orange and blue squads meet on the Gridiron for the first time since 2022

Virginia and Syracuse battle at Scott Stadium, Oct. 17, 2015. It was the most recent matchup between the ACC foes at Scott Stadium. The result was a 44-38 triple overtime win for the Cavaliers. | Courtesy Virginia Athletics

Since Syracuse joined the ACC in 2013, it has only faced Virginia twice. The Cavaliers and the Orange have only played each other six times in program history, making for a strangely rare matchup in the conference.

This 2026 campaign marks the first time Virginia and Syracuse duel in Charlottesville since 2015. At the moment, the Cavaliers appear to be a significant favorite — but a new defensive leader and the return of a potential star quarterback make for an intriguing matchup on paper.

To explore the Virginia-Syracuse game as part of the way-too-early 2026 opponent preview series, UVA On SI is joined by Nicholas Alumkal, a Senior Writer at The Daily Orange.

The Syracuse file

The biggest story surrounding the Orange is at the quarterback position — but this situation is different than Virginia’s other opponents. Syracuse does have a highly skilled quarterback in Steve Angeli, so the concern is not about ability. It is about health. 

In the first four weeks of the 2025 campaign, Angeli led the nation in passing yards and already recorded 10 touchdowns. He appeared destined for stardom in his redshirt junior campaign. 

“He was as accurate as Robin Hood with an arrow and cooler than a bomb disposal expert,” Alumkal said.

But then disaster struck. Angeli suffered a torn ACL at Clemson and the Orange lost every single game without him. So, the biggest question about Syracuse is how Angeli performs post-injury — but there are other questions besides the health of a promising starting quarterback.

“Syracuse spent last season wandering the football wilderness,” Alumkal said. “Whether the Orange emerge from that interregnum depends largely on Angeli's Achilles, [Coach Fran] Brown's reconstruction project and a roster that remains more promise than proof.”

Can the Orange offense compete with Virginia’s experienced defense?

Sep 12, 2025; Syracuse, New York, USA; Syracuse Orange quarterback Steve Angeli (9) warms up before a game against the Colgate Raiders at JMA Wireless Dome. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-Imagn Images | Mark Konezny-Imagn Images

For better or worse, Syracuse is starting with a clean slate offensively. Alumkal mentioned that the top seven Orange in receiving yards are gone, and no returning players ran for more than 40 yards except a backup quarterback. The Syracuse coaching staff is not working with an abundance of continuity at skill positions.

The Orange do feature coveted five-star receiver Calvin Russell — but he might not play against Virginia, as he suffered a torn ACL earlier this spring. Angeli could be targeting two-way player Demetres Samuel, or transfers Elijah Moore (Florida State) and Cole Weaver (Miami).

“The remainder of the room is a mélange of greenhorns, transfers and tantalizing possibilities,” Alumkal said.

Angeli could also rely on running back Ahmad Miller, a Jackson State transfer who ran for 1,035 yards and five touchdowns in 2025.

In his four starts last year, the best defense Angeli started against was Clemson. The Cavaliers could present a much more difficult challenge, given that they ranked 35 spots above the Tigers in total defense on the 2025 national leaderboard. Angeli will need to take over the game, which will require a pristine performance from his offensive line in order to upset Virginia.

Angeli is not an incredibly mobile quarterback — he has never rushed for more than 30 yards in a single season.

A defense hoping to ascend under a new coordinator

Syracuse fielded the worst scoring defense in the ACC last season. That aligns with a common theme shared by some of Virginia’s opponents, namely Florida State and Norfolk State — the idea that things cannot possibly get worse after 2025.

“Rebuilding this defense is less a renovation than an extirpation project,” Alumkal said.

Even so, the Orange defense could make a significant leap in 2026, as Syracuse hired defensive coordinator Vince Kehres from Toledo. Kehres led the Rockets to finish second nationally in yards allowed per game, third in total defense, and fourth in scoring defense.

Kehres brings a winning pedigree to New York. He spent 20 years as a coach, student assistant, and player at Division III Mount Union, where he helped lead the Purple Raiders to the national championship game every single year.

Before Kehres took the Toledo defensive coordinator job, the Rockets ranked dead last in the Mid-American Conference in total defense.

As is commonplace in contemporary college football, change is inevitable. The key is, has Syracuse changed enough to drastically improve and eventually topple the contending Cavaliers?

Virginia is hoping to dispatch the Orange, and build an early hot streak before a crucial road game at SMU one week later. Syracuse could give the Cavaliers a genuine scare, though.