Syracuse Orange head coach Fran Brown. Brett Davis-Imagn Images

Syracuse HC Fran Brown punishes team after win over UConn

By Pearson Gillam | Last updated Sep 6, 2025 6:02 PM ET

When the clock strikes zero, teams typically shake hands and head to their respective locker rooms. That wasn’t the case for the Syracuse Orange on Saturday.

After a poor showing against Tennessee in Week 1, Syracuse returned home to play Connecticut, a game in which the Orange were favored. The Huskies went up 17-6 in the third quarter, before Syracuse stormed back to take the lead.

However, UConn converted a fourth down late and sent the game into overtime, where the Syracuse defense stood tall and helped seal the 27-20 victory. Despite the comeback effort, head coach Fran Brown wasn’t all that pleased with his players’ effort, and it showed after the game.

The second-year head coach made the entire roster stay on the field and do sprints.

Fran Brown, in the middle here, has Syracuse running sprints after the game pic.twitter.com/FEF409DBbq
— Ashley Wenskoski (@AshleyWenskTV) September 6, 2025

Coming off a 10-win season, Brown knows that his squad won’t be able to replicate their success from a year ago if they continue playing the way they are. He wants to send a message to his players, assuring them that they leave everything on the field, even if it means staying around after the game.

The brightest spot for the Orange was quarterback Steve Angeli. The Notre Dame transfer totaled 417 passing yards and tossed two touchdowns, including the go-ahead score in overtime.

Syracuse gets one last tune-up game against Colgate next week, before beginning conference play with a tough three-game stretch that features road matchups with No. 8 Clemson and No. 17 SMU.

Pearson Gillam

I am a writer from Atlanta, Georgia, who attends Oklahoma State University. I am majoring in Sports Media and have experience covering the school's track and field team for the local newspaper. I have expertise in college football and college basketball, but I also enjoy the NFL, cross-country running, and track and field.

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