Since Syracuse joined the ACC in 2013, it has only faced Virginia twice. The Cavaliers and the Orange have only played each other six times in program history, making for a strangely rare matchup in the conference.

This 2026 campaign marks the first time Virginia and Syracuse duel in Charlottesville since 2015. At the moment, the Cavaliers appear to be a significant favorite — but a new defensive leader and the return of a potential star quarterback make for an intriguing matchup on paper.

To explore the Virginia-Syracuse game as part of the way-too-early 2026 opponent preview series, UVA On SI is joined by Nicholas Alumkal, a Senior Writer at The Daily Orange.

The Syracuse file

The biggest story surrounding the Orange is at the quarterback position — but this situation is different than Virginia’s other opponents. Syracuse does have a highly skilled quarterback in Steve Angeli, so the concern is not about ability. It is about health. 

In the first four weeks of the 2025 campaign, Angeli led the nation in passing yards and already recorded 10 touchdowns. He appeared destined for stardom in his redshirt junior campaign. 

“He was as accurate as Robin Hood with an arrow and cooler than a bomb disposal expert,” Alumkal said.

But then disaster struck. Angeli suffered a torn ACL at Clemson and the Orange lost every single game without him. So, the biggest question about Syracuse is how Angeli performs post-injury — but there are other questions besides the health of a promising starting quarterback.

“Syracuse spent last season wandering the football wilderness,” Alumkal said. “Whether the Orange emerge from that interregnum depends largely on Angeli’s Achilles, [Coach Fran] Brown’s reconstruction project and a roster that remains more promise than proof.”

Can the Orange offense compete with Virginia’s experienced defense?

For better or worse, Syracuse is starting with a clean slate offensively. Alumkal mentioned that the top seven Orange in receiving yards are gone, and no returning players ran for more than 40 yards except a backup quarterback. The Syracuse coaching staff is not working with an abundance of continuity at skill positions.

The Orange do feature coveted five-star receiver Calvin Russell — but he might not play against Virginia, as he suffered a torn ACL earlier this spring. Angeli could be targeting two-way player Demetres Samuel, or transfers Elijah Moore (Florida State) and Cole Weaver (Miami).

“The remainder of the room is a mélange of greenhorns, transfers and tantalizing possibilities,” Alumkal said.

Angeli could also rely on running back Ahmad Miller, a Jackson State transfer who ran for 1,035 yards and five touchdowns in 2025.

In his four starts last year, the best defense Angeli started against was Clemson. The Cavaliers could present a much more difficult challenge, given that they ranked 35 spots above the Tigers in total defense on the 2025 national leaderboard. Angeli will need to take over the game, which will require a pristine performance from his offensive line in order to upset Virginia.

Angeli is not an incredibly mobile quarterback — he has never rushed for more than 30 yards in a single season.

A defense hoping to ascend under a new coordinator

Syracuse fielded the worst scoring defense in the ACC last season. That aligns with a common theme shared by some of Virginia’s opponents, namely Florida State and Norfolk State — the idea that things cannot possibly get worse after 2025.

“Rebuilding this defense is less a renovation than an extirpation project,” Alumkal said.

Even so, the Orange defense could make a significant leap in 2026, as Syracuse hired defensive coordinator Vince Kehres from Toledo. Kehres led the Rockets to finish second nationally in yards allowed per game, third in total defense, and fourth in scoring defense.

Kehres brings a winning pedigree to New York. He spent 20 years as a coach, student assistant, and player at Division III Mount Union, where he helped lead the Purple Raiders to the national championship game every single year.

Before Kehres took the Toledo defensive coordinator job, the Rockets ranked dead last in the Mid-American Conference in total defense.

As is commonplace in contemporary college football, change is inevitable. The key is, has Syracuse changed enough to drastically improve and eventually topple the contending Cavaliers?

Virginia is hoping to dispatch the Orange, and build an early hot streak before a crucial road game at SMU one week later. Syracuse could give the Cavaliers a genuine scare, though.

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VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — City Council is considering moving forward with a plan that could result in the construction of nearly 660 housing units, a childcare center and the redesign of eight holes at Virginia Beach National Golf Club.

In a presentation Tuesday afternoon, it was revealed the development would be led by the Virginia Beach-based Dragas Companies. They were one of nine groups who responded to the city’s request for proposals last year after the city first floated the possibility of selling the 18-hole course that sits north of municipal center off Princess Anne Road.

Under the terms that have been negotiated between City Council and economic development staff for months in closed session, Dragas would purchase the roughly 270 acre course for $17.9 million from the city, according to a presentation from Emily Archer, the city’s acting director of economic development.

The city will, in turn, give the $17.9 million back to Dragas, along with $1.8 million from the Virginia Beach Development Authority, to go towards an estimated $38 million golf course redevelopment.

Timothy Liddy, identified as a protégé of original course designer Pete Dye, would help relocate eight holes, including two that would go on 45 acres of currently undeveloped land.

On the 40-acres where holes 12, 13 and parts of hole 14 are currently located, Dragas would build 107 townhomes, 168 units of flats, and 192 units of terraces and verandas.

Century Golf Partners, which handles operations at Walt Disney World’s courses, would manage the new 18-holes that would remain public. A new childcare center would be built on nearly two acres of land on Tournament Drive.

Helen Dragas, president and CEO of Dragas Companies, said the plan accomplishes both city housing and tourism goals.

“We’ve always been involved in civic engagement and just looking to better the city,” Dragas said. So … between the golf, the childcare component which I think is another … critically undersupplied need of the community and the housing, it all just seemed to to resonate at the right time.”

A public hearing on the sale of the land is scheduled for July 7, with a vote July 14. A majority of City Council members expressed support for the proposal.

“This is about cost avoidance and complementing the other sports tourism uses for me,” Councilman Joash Schulman said Tuesday.

First Tee Golf Club, which sits on 80 acres abutting the Virginia Beach National property, will not be part of the deal, as the land was gifted to the YMCA earlier this year.

I just revisited my 2025 predictions for the Cavaliers — it is now time to make my new picks for 2026. Hopefully they age gracefully and not like whatever lurks on the bathroom floors at Scott Stadium.

Record: 10-2, third in ACC. Pop-Tarts Bowl

Virginia does not face a titanically rigorous ACC schedule. Because the Cavaliers are coming off of a strong campaign and have the most experienced roster in the country, the floor should be eight wins — and realistically, this should be a nine or 10-win team. There is only one game in which the Cavaliers should be significant underdogs, which is a road date at SMU. And other than the Virginia Tech game, there may not be another game in which Virginia is an underdog at all. That is a real possibility.

If the Cavaliers beat the Mustangs in Dallas, Texas, they will probably return to the ACC Championship game. If they lose, though, they could miss out even with a 10-2 record. Miami could very well go 12-0, and SMU could hold the tiebreaker over Virginia. But even without a trip to Charlotte, N.C., the Cavaliers should still play in one of the top bowl games. Perhaps that is the Pop-Tarts Bowl in Orlando, Fla, or another visit to the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl. The Holiday Bowl is also a possibility.

Virginia beats Virginia Tech on the road for the first time since 1998

I predict that Ethan Grunkemeyer will become one of the ACC’s better quarterbacks, however, it would be ridiculous to assume Virginia Tech is going to magically vault itself from 3-9 to 10-2. The Hokies were handed a brutal ACC schedule with games at Miami, SMU and Clemson plus a trip out to Cal and home battles against Virginia, Pitt and Georgia Tech. Virginia Tech does have a few freebies on the schedule, but I predict the Hokies go 6-6 or 5-7 in the first year under Coach James Franklin. One of those losses, I predict, is coming against the Cavaliers.

Awards

Offensive MVP: Beau Pribula

Defensive MVP: Corey Costner

Freshman of the Year: Derek Uran

Play of the Year: Kam Robinson

Comeback Player of the Year: Monroe Mills and Ja’Maric Morris

Transfer of the Year: Peyton Lewis

Most Improved: Kam Courtney

If Pribula starts every game at quarterback and leads Virginia to similar levels of success as Chandler Morris, then he is the easy choice for Offensive MVP. On the other side, Costner is a sleeper pick who I believe could have a tremendous breakout campaign.

The Cavaliers’ SPUR position is put in spots to make plays, which Ja’Son Prevard (and Costner) did in spades last season. Now that Costner is the starter, he could surprise and take over as an All-ACC player. 

Another player primed for playing time is Uran. With Kam Robinson and Maddox Marcellus dealing with injuries and James Jackson out of eligibility, the freshman Uran could find his way onto the field at linebacker or on special teams quickly.

When Robinson does return, though, I predict he will make some play worthy of a SportsCenter Top 10 spot — maybe he forces a fumble and returns it for a touchdown, records a pick six or another game-clinching safety.

While Virginia lost one Morris, another returned. Ja’Maric Morris was a promising portal acquisition at defensive back, but he suffered a season-ending injury before ever playing in a regular season game for the Cavaliers.

He is now back, and with the experience of someone who has been in college football since 2021, he could earn notable playing time. I predict Morris to be worthy of Comeback Player of the Year along with Monroe Mills, Virginia’s top portal commit from last offseason — who also missed the whole 2025 season and will make a major impact in 2026. 

With loads of respect to the defensive side of the ball, I predict Peyton Lewis will be the most impactful transfer — other than Pribula, who would win this award if I were to allow players to win multiple awards. If Lewis takes the J’Mari Taylor role and runs with it, he should be an All-ACC player.

He certainly has the talent to do so. Lewis could become a fan favorite. Sticking with the offense, Kam Courtney is my pick for Most Improved. He figures to nab a starting role in the slot this year, and with increased playing time, he could become one of Pribula’s favorite targets.