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After a dominant 66-3 win over New Hampshire in Week 1, the Syracuse Orange football program was humbled on Saturday, losing 21-18 against visiting Cal at the JMA Wireless Dome. 

The Orange are now 1-1 while the Golden Bears are also 1-1 after the win.

This was the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) opener for the Orange, so it was certainly a magnified loss.

Here's what you need to know about this game, with the takeaways in no particular order.

Orange fail to hold lead

Syracuse had a 12-0 lead in the second quarter, but was unable to hold it, as Cal eventually took a 14-12 lead in the third quarter.

Syracuse came back to take an 18-14 lead, but was unable to convert a two-point conversation that would have made it 20-14.

Cal scored again to make it 21-18 and the Orange missed two field goals in the fourth quarter, including one with about three minutes to go that would have tied the game.

Quarterback Steve Angeli struggles

Angeli, who played well against New Hampshire in his first start in nearly a calendar year, was much less crisp in this game. He went just 24-of-49 for 306 yards. He threw a touchdown, but he had three interceptions, including one with Syracuse driving with a minute to play in the game.

Another of his interceptions was returned for a touchdown.

So nice he had to do it twice 😏@LopaKingston takes his second interception of the game all the way to the endzone for a Bears touchdown.

📺 @accnetwork#GoBearspic.twitter.com/MTWLqScMlu

— Cal Football (@CalFootball) September 12, 2026

Tylik Hill injured

Starting running back Tylik Hill ran for 55 yards on his second carry of the game and then we didn't see him again. He pulled up lame just short of the endzone and only amassed two carries for 56 yards. 

How the RB's sorted out afterwards 

In the absence of Hill, we got our first real look at LSU transfer Ju'juan Johnson, who didn't play in Week 1. He had 15 carries for 46 yards and a touchdown. Shavane Anderson Jr., who was the ACC Rookie of the Week in Week 1, had just nine carries for 18 yards.

We also got our first look at Jackson State transfer Ahmad Miller, who had two carries for two yards.

The impact of Justus Ross-Simmons

Ross-Simmons, who has battled this offseason for a fifth-year of eligibility, was ruled eligible to play in this one, and he made an instant impact. The fifth-year caught five balls for 82 yards, including a long of 25.

He was a nice complement to Umari Hatcher, who had six catches for 77 yards. 

Calvin Russell III, the star freshman recruit, warmed up for this game, but did not play as he recovers from a torn Achilles suffered in spring ball.

JRS with a CATCH 🎯

📺 ACCN pic.twitter.com/ymjbSNyRsH

— Syracuse Football (@CuseFootball) September 12, 2026

Special teams dooms Orange

Syracuse missed two field goals in the fourth quarter, and had a punt return for a touchdown nullified by a penalty.

On that note 

Syracuse had 15 penalties for 132 yards, which head coach Fran Brown will find completely unacceptable.

Syracuse has to feel like it gave this game away 

The Orange had 27 first downs to Cal's 16, were 8-of-17 combined on third and fourth down while Cal went 3-of-13, and had 436 yards of offense compared to 249.

The separators? The turnovers. And the penalties.

Up next

The Orange are back in action on Thursday night at Pitt. It will be the first road game for Brown's squad.

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