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Syracuse began its Atlantic Coast Conference slate with a statement. The Orange had never won in five attempts at Death Valley. Last Saturday, they led all game. SU’s offense burst out of the gate with a surprise onside kick after its first score, adding to its momentum.

The victory didn’t come without some sacrifice. Starting quarterback Steve Angeli tore his Achilles tendon in the third quarter and will miss the rest of the season following surgery on Monday. Angeli’s injury will thrust LSU transfer Rickie Collins into a starting role for the first time in his career.

Collins’ first true test will be against Duke. The Blue Devils are 2-2 but began conference play with a 45-33 victory over NC State. Duke is in its second year under head coach Manny Diaz.

Here’s how our beat writers think Syracuse (3-1, 1-0 ACC) will fare against Duke (2-2, 1-0 ACC):

Aiden Stepansky (3-1)
Slick Rick prevails
Syracuse 31, Duke 27

Angeli’s season-ending injury significantly wrinkles Fran Brown and the Orange’s plans in 2025. But if there was any ACC defense for Collins to find his footing against, it’s the Blue Devils.

Duke enters Week 5 with a conference-worst average of 32.3 points against. It’s also allowed 260.5 passing yards per game, the fifth-worst mark in the ACC. The Blue Devils do still have a few stars like Vincent Anthony Jr. off the edge and Chandler Rivers at cornerback that could make things interesting.

Collins is seen as a runner because of his athletic ability. But the truth is, he can sling it. Collins might start slow as he gets his feet wet. However, he’s supported by a top play caller in the country, in offensive coordinator Jeff Nixon, and some of the hottest receivers in the country. I don’t think Nixon will totally alter the game plan without Angeli, but he will likely cater a few plays to Collins’ dual-threat skillset. Weapons like Darrell Gill Jr. and Johntay Cook will get the Orange down the field and Justus Ross-Simmons will be the enforcer in the red zone. And don’t be surprised if Collins breaks one loose on the ground.

This game will probably come down to the wire. Duke has one of the top signal callers in the conference with Darian Mensah. Still, Syracuse’s defense has improved each week this season, and I see the trend continuing at home, even if SU has to come from behind for a victory.

Cooper Andrews (3-1)
Heat check
Syracuse 31, Duke 23

Four victories in a row after the disappointment Syracuse suffered against Tennessee would be one heck of a feat for Brown’s squad. This game is a heat check for the Orange – one that could indicate whether their winning ways can continue with Collins under center instead of Angeli. And I think they’ll stay on a heater by defeating the Blue Devils on Saturday.

As Aiden said, Collins is labeled as a runner and not a pro-style passer. It’s far too early to say if he can “sling it,” but I do believe Collins is a better quarterback than people make him out to be. He showed occasionally versus Clemson that he can operate Nixon’s offense with precision, namely on his 18-yard touchdown strike to Ross-Simmons. If he can stay on the same page with Nixon’s scheme and get the ball out quickly, Collins will thrive against Duke.

My confidence in Collins lies in his receiving corps. The Orange, for the second year in a row, are loaded with offensive artillery. Their wide-receiver trio of Ross-Simmons, Cook and Gill has combined for 756 yards and nine touchdowns while tight end Dan Villari has added 240 receiving yards — ranking third among all tight ends in the country. If SU’s offensive line gives Collins sufficient time, he’ll have no problem finding open men.

Syracuse’s defense and special teams looked legit against Clemson. The only variable left is figuring out if Collins is, as he said Tuesday, “the guy.” While that sentiment won’t be clinched with a win, outplaying Mensah would be a great starting point.

Zak Wolf (3-1)
Mensah mania
Syracuse 26, Duke 30

Oh, the classic let-down game. Riding high after its win in Death Valley, Syracuse will come back to Earth this weekend. If Angeli were healthy, I’d mark this down as a win, but with Collins, I have my doubts. The LSU transfer’s lack of high-pressure snaps is my main cause for concern. First starts are always tough, and we’ll likely see a lot of nervy moments on Saturday. Duke’s defense isn’t great, but it picked off NC State quarterback CJ Bailey three times last week, and it will be aggressive against the inexperienced quarterback.

Meanwhile, the Blue Devils are led by a gunslinger in Mensah. The Tulane transfer made waves in the offseason, reportedly signing an $8 million name, image and likeness deal. Mensah has backed up those figures so far with 1,305 yards and 11 touchdowns, while being Pro Football Focus’ sixth-highest rated passer in the country. He can push the ball down the field, which will test Syracuse’s secondary. Mensah has played in big games before as Tulane’s starter last season; Collins hasn’t.

Syracuse has to pressure Duke’s signal caller to get him off rhythm. Its defensive linemen this season have recorded only one sack, meaning Elijah Robinson will have to send exotic blitzes like he did against Clemson. Mensah is smart enough to adjust accordingly based on the film, and I think he’ll have his way with Syracuse’s defense. To win, the Orange need to put up points. Yet, with Collins, I can’t trust them to do that, and SU’s win over Clemson will be all for naught.

Published on September 24, 2025 at 8:41 pm