SYRACUSE, NY — It was an old-school rivalry in Week 3 in Syracuse, as the Orange took on the Colgate Raiders at the JMA Wireless Dome. Steve Angeli and the offense got off to an early start, and the rest of the contest was a breeze for the Orange against their old in-state foe. In the end, Syracuse pulled away and won 66-24. While this matchup was always projected to be one-sided, it did make for some interesting moments. So let’s dive in to this Syracuse vs. Colgate 2025 game recap.
Syracuse Orange vs. Colgate Raiders 2025 Game Recap
Like the last 75 years before it, this game ended in favor of Syracuse. And, like last season, it was a one-sided affair for the Orange. After all, it was 38-3 at the end of the first half. However, it was important game for head coach Fran Brown and his team to get in their groove ahead of a Week 4 road matchup against the Clemson Tigers.
A Fast Start
The Syracuse Orange got off to a quick start, scoring 14 points in the first quarter. The highlight of the first 15 minutes was Darrell Gill, who had three catches for 69 yards and a touchdown. Gill put an exclamation point on the quarter with a 43-yard touchdown that included him “Mossing” a Colgate defender.
Mossed em 👀@Darrell_Gill_jr
📺 ACCN pic.twitter.com/MsSv5Uqv2W
— Syracuse Football (@CuseFootball) September 12, 2025
Syracuse fans could very well be seeing the breakout of the track star in 2025.
Meanwhile, Justus Ross-Simmons picked back up where he left off, scoring on a 26-yard out route while shaking off a defender en route to a touchdown. The Syracuse wide receiver has looked good to start this season, showing that there are multiple playmakers for the Orange offense this season. By halftime, Steve Angeli had thrown for four touchdowns to three different receivers and a 38-3 lead for Syracuse. The veteran signal-caller would end the game with 417 yards and five touchdowns, tying the program’s record.
Oddly enough, the rushing attack started slow for the Orange. Yet, it did find space at the end of the first quarter. Will Nixon scored his first touchdown of the season in this contest. He also had multiple long rushes throughout the contest. With Nixon was sophomore Jaden Hart, who got some run after Yasin Willis and Malachi James missed the game with injuries.
This game was a good “get right” game for Syracuse. They needed to leave this matchup with confidence as they travel to Clemson in Week 4.
No Help for Osborne
Colgate’s offense provided no help for quarterback Zach Osborne, who was rested in the second half of the blowout contest. The offensive line couldn’t stop Syracuse’s pressure, and wide receivers consistently dropped passes. The quarterback was forced to leave pockets early, take hits on his attempts, and shoulder the burden of offensive production. The reality is that despite the lack of production, Colgate did not lose this game because of Osborne. In fact, he was one of the reasons they remained competitive (outside of a redzone interception). That is, him, and wide receiver Treyvhon Saunders.
Saunders was the only skill player on Colgate to show true production in this contest. Saunders was a reliable target for Osborne. He was a primary target on most reads, and a decoy on others. Saunders finished with 11 catches for 105 yards. While he plays in the FCS, Saunders is a real pro prospect.
What’s Next for Syracuse?
In all honesty, Syracuse’s Week 3 contest against Colgate was a tune-up game for their Week 4 contest against Clemson. The Orange will be on the road against a division foe that is projected to be one of the best in the conference. For the sake of this season, this matchup against the Tigers will be a true test for Syracuse. If they’re not able to be competitive against Clemson, it may be a long season for the team. However, if they’re able to put up a fight, this team will be playing their conferences opponents a lot tougher than the media projected them to at the start of the season.
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