How Syracuse Football Can Build a Winning Strategy for the Upcoming Season

As I sit down to analyze the prospects for Syracuse Football this upcoming season, my mind drifts to an intriguing parallel from a completely different sport halfway across the world. I was just reading about the PVL in the Philippines, where the Kobe Shinwa team is on the verge of making history this Sunday. They’re aiming to become the lone foreign guest team to be hailed a two-time PVL champion, facing an unbeaten PLDT squad. That’s a staggering feat, one that requires not just talent, but a meticulously crafted, resilient strategy that can overcome a dominant, undefeated opponent. It got me thinking—this is precisely the kind of blueprint Syracuse needs. Our challenge isn’t identical, but the core principle is: how do you build a winning strategy from a position that isn’t necessarily the favorite? For Syracuse, coming off a 6-7 season, the path isn't about being unbeatable from the gate; it’s about constructing a system so coherent and adaptable that it can produce championship-level results when it matters most.

Let’s be honest, the ACC is a gauntlet, and we’ve had our share of ups and downs. I believe the foundation starts with an identity we can cling to, something tougher than our opponents. For me, that has to be a punishing, physical defense. We saw flashes of it last year, but consistency was the killer. I’d argue we need to model our defensive unit after that underdog mentality Kobe Shinwa must embody. They’re not just showing up; they’re executing a specific plan to dismantle a giant. For our Orange, that means transforming our front seven into a disruptive force that can control the line of scrimmage. Imagine generating 35-plus sacks as a team, a significant jump from last year, and forcing at least 25 turnovers. Those aren't just hopeful numbers; they’re the statistical bedrock of teams that upset the established order. It requires players like linebacker Marlowe Wax to not just make tackles, but to become a defensive quarterback, anticipating plays and creating chaos. This defensive identity becomes our non-negotiable, the first brick in our strategic wall.

Of course, a defense alone can’t win you nine or ten games. The offense, particularly the quarterback position, is where seasons are made or broken. We have a potential star in quarterback Carlos Del Rio-Wilson, but potential is a dangerous word in college football. The strategy here must be about optimization, not miracles. I’m a firm advocate for tailoring the offensive scheme to his strengths—likely his athleticism and arm strength on the move—rather than forcing a pro-style system down his throat. Look, if Kobe Shinwa tried to play PLDT’s game, they’d get blown out. They have to leverage their unique advantages. For us, that might mean a more run-oriented, play-action heavy attack that takes pressure off the young QB. Establishing a run game with LeQuint Allen is paramount; I want to see him flirt with 1,200 rushing yards. That kind of production opens up the field. The passing game then becomes about high-percentage, explosive shots. We don’t need 400 passing yards a game; we need efficiency in the red zone, converting at a rate above 65%, and winning the time-of-possession battle by an average of six minutes. It’s pragmatic, maybe even a bit old-school, but in a conference loaded with offensive firepower, being methodical and mistake-free is a potent weapon.

But here’s the thing that often gets overlooked: strategy isn’t just X’s and O’s on a whiteboard. It’s culture. It’s the intangible belief that you can be the "lone" team to achieve something special, just like that PVL guest team is striving for. Head coach Dino Babers has to sell that vision every single day. This is where my personal view gets strong—I think we need to embrace the underdog role fully, even if it’s uncomfortable. Every practice, every meeting should reinforce the idea that we are building something unique here that the rest of the league isn’t expecting. Player development in the offseason is where this shows up. Did our secondary add 15 pounds of muscle? Did our offensive line improve their collective footspeed by measurable margins? I’m talking about specific, almost granular improvements that compound over a season. Special teams, too, can’t be an afterthought; they should be a weapon. Aiming for a top-25 national ranking in net punting and kick return average can flip field position in three close games a season, and those three games are the difference between 6-6 and 9-3.

So, as we look toward the opener, the strategy is clear in my mind. It’s a three-legged stool: a defensive identity built on physicality and takeaways, an offensive philosophy centered on a strong run game and efficient quarterback management, and a program-wide culture of detailed, relentless preparation that fosters belief. We may not have the five-star recruits of Clemson or Florida State, but neither did Kobe Shinwa when they entered that league. Their potential victory isn’t about having the best players on paper for every single match; it’s about having the best plan for the specific challenge in front of them and executing it with more heart. That’s the Syracuse football blueprint. It requires near-perfect alignment from the coaching staff down to the third-string players. If we can build that, we won’t just be hoping for a winning season; we’ll be constructing a team capable of pulling off its own historic feats, shocking the ACC, and maybe, just maybe, earning a distinction all our own. The work starts now, long before the first kickoff, in the weight room, the film session, and the collective mind of the team. I, for one, am optimistic that this is the year the pieces start to fit together in a way that surprises everyone outside of Central New York.