Fran Brown and the 2026 Syracuse Orange football team are into Week 3 of training camp as the regular season nears on Sept. 5. The 2026 season marks Brown's third season as the head football head coach in Central New York. In Brown's first season (2024), the Orange won double-digit games for just the third time in the last 25 seasons (10). Last season, the Orange started with a 3-1 record but lost their next eight games to finish at 3-9. Many fans and media members will point to the injury of quarterback of Steve Angeli as a pivotal moment in 2025. Following the injury to Angeli, the Orange lost eight straight games and had multiple different quarterbacks play, all to no avail. This season, Brown added new depth to the quarterback room. Brown addressed his thoughts on many of the quarterbacks following Monday's practice. What did Brown say about Steve Angeli? On Angeli, following the weekend's intersquad scrimmage performance: "He wants to do better. I thought he did pretty good. I thought he can help continuing playing winning football. I'm sure he wants to do better. The coaches want him to do better. Everyone wants to do better."
What did Brown say about the other three quarterbacks? After a scrimmage this past weekend, Brown offered his take on the other rostered quarterbacks: Brown on Amari Odom: "Amari is really, really good. Super talented. He is a leader naturally. Very thankful for him being here. He is different. He is a gun slinger. This kid can play football." Odom was Kennesaw State quarterback last season and transferred in. Ironically, former Syracuse quarterback Rickie Collins has transferred to Kennesaw State to take his place. Brown on Malachi Nelson: "I thought Malachi threw a good ball. He did a good job. He is a good kid. Happy to have him here. ... Malachi has what it takes to have our football team win." Nelson has played previously for USC, Boise State and UTEP before joining the Orange this past spring. He is the former No. 1 recruit in the country and is still looking to find his footing. Brown on Danny Lauter: "Danny is Syracuse. He is working. He is giving everything he's got." Lauter comes in from Georgetown and has family ties to SU. Up next for Syracuse Syracuse will have a fourth week of training camp next week before transitioning to game week preparation on Aug. 31. The opener on Sept. 5 will be played at the JMA Wireless Dome against New Hampshire. The AP Top 25 poll was released on Monday and while Syracuse isn't on it, three of its opponents are. Here's what you need to know.