The Syracuse Orange football team begin its season with an SEC powerhouse in the No. 24 Tennessee Volunteers Saturday at 12 p.m. ET. Orange coach Fran Brown has familiarity with the Volunteers from his time with Georgia, which Syracuse will rely on to have a chance of winning this weekend.
Syracuse vs. Tennessee will air on ABC, which you can stream on DirecTV (free trial).
Here’s what you need to know:
What: NCAAF regular season
Who: Syracuse Orange vs. No. 24 Tennessee Volunteers
When: Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025
Time: 12 p.m. ET
Where: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia
TV: ABC
Live stream: DirecTV (free trial), fuboTV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling
| Streaming service | Free trial? | Promo | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| DirecTV | Yes | $30 off first month | $84.99 |
| fuboTV | No | $30 off first month | $84.99 |
| Hulu + Live TV | Yes | No | $82.99 |
| Sling | No | No | $45.99 |
Syracuse went 10-3 in Brown’s first season as coach in 2024, the first time it’s won double digit games since 2018 and the third time this century.
The Orange’s offense was potent last season, led by Kyle McCord, who now finds himself on the Philadelphia Eagles practice squad. McCord led the nation with 4,779 passing yards in 2024, adding 34 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Syracuse also lost running back LeQuint Allen, wide receivers Jackson Meeks and Trebor Pena, along with tight end Oronde Gadsden II. Those four players accounted for 3,417 receiving yards last season.
Notre Dame transfer Steve Angeli won the starting quarterback battle over LSU transfer Rickie Collins during the preseason. Angeli spent the past two seasons with the Fighting Irish, throwing for 772 yards, 10 touchdowns and an interception in limited play.
Texas transfer Johntay Cook will have to help Darrell Gill Jr. keep the receiving corps afloat. Cook caught 16 passes for 273 yards and two touchdowns in his two seasons with the Longhorns. He was arrested twice this offseason, but Brown has expressed confidence in Cook’s character.
The Volunteers are 13.5-point favorites to beat Syracuse (+420) Saturday on FanDuel.
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
