Syracuse Football: Why Fran Brown, the Orange have high expectations this season

Syracuse football, in late August, will begin its 2024 season when the Orange is set to host Ohio. Orange fans are excited for the upcoming season, when first-year head coach Fran Brown and his assistants guide a talented roster that includes returnees, transfers and incoming high school seniors.

In this column, I take a look at what the expectations for Brown and the Orange could entail in the upcoming season.

Here are some key questions to consider as we detail the 2024 season for Syracuse football.

What can we expect from Fran Brown this year as head coach?
Fran Brown was the former defensive backs coach for the Georgia Bulldogs, where he won a national championship with the team back in the 2022 season. Brown brings a champion's view to this Orange team that is looking to make a name for themselves this season.

He will look to bring a new attitude and a new atmosphere that the Orange have been lacking for some time now. Even though Syracuse has made it to bowl games its past two seasons, Brown is looking to rebuild this team in his image, which is a team that can make a run for the top 25 rankings and even make a run for the ACC title and high hopes to make it to the College Football Playoff.

He looks to build a team that can not only run the ball, but also make high-caliber passes and play tough, no-nonsense defense on the other side as well.

What new additions to the Orange will stand out?
Coach Brown has been busy this off-season and made some moves that bring a lot of promise to this Orange team that is now looking like a revamped team with a lot of promise behind it. Kyle McCord, a quarterback transfer from Ohio State, was one of the biggest moves Syracuse has made this year.

The former starter at Ohio State looks to bring his arm and field vision to the Syracuse Orange this fall, as he looks to bring a solid passing game, which will work well with offensive stars like tight end Oronde Gadsden II and running back LeQuint Allen Jr., to a Syracuse team that has been a little run heavy the past few seasons.

Brown would also help bring back a fan favorite in Duce Chestnut, who transferred from Syracuse to LSU back in 2022. Chestnut's speed, pass coverage and ball awareness are much-needed keys to this solid Syracuse defensive unit that has been revamped with stars like defensive back Justin Barron, linebacker Marlowe Wax Jr., and more.

Does Syracuse have a chance at an ACC title or the College Football Playoff?
With the schedule and new team that Syracuse has this upcoming season, a chance at the ACC title might be possible, but I would slow down on the College Football Playoff at the moment. With the Orange schedule this season, it looks like Syracuse might have one of the easiest schedules on the year, which does not look good on a resume for the college football committee when it comes to strength of schedule.

By looking at some games, like the Orange playing new ACC members the University of California (Cal), Southern Methodist University (SMU), and Stanford University, and going up against some non-big-name schools, the Orange might have trouble in reaching the College Football Playoff, but an ACC title might be more realistic.

Syracuse will have to play its best football this season against the ACC schedule and in non-conference games, but we see a chance for a bowl game, and a possible ACC title run, but I wouldn't count our chickens on the new 12-team formatted College Football Playoff.

Overall, this Syracuse football team is entering a new era with high hopes, new opponents, and new attitudes. Could we see the Orange reach its potential under a new coach and new players and will we see the same Orange team with the same expectations we have had for years? I guess we will see with fall right around the corner.