When Steve Angeli left Notre Dame for Syracuse, Marcus Freeman and his team. Angeli had been a good soldier for years as a backup quarterback, saw the writing on the wall, and knew either Kenny Minchey or CJ Carr would likely take the starting job in 2025.
After Kyle McCord put up incredible numbers the year before, Fran Brown's program looked like the perfect place to let Angeli really shine. The added bonus was that, with Syracuse due to play Notre Dame in South Bend in 2025, the late-season game looked like a reunion where Angeli could run onto the field to the roar of the crowd, even if he was on the opposite sideline.
Then Angeli got injured in the fourth game of his Syracuse career. Reunion (at least on the field) canceled. However, 2026 offered another chance, with Angeli back and ready for the regular season. This time Notre Dame and Syracuse will face off in New York. Unfortunately, it's becoming increasingly unlikely that Angeli will start for the Orange when the Fighting Irish come calling on November 28.
In his last two starts, Angeli struggled mightily, throwing just 1 touchdown and 5 interceptions in losses to Cal and Pitt. Just before kickoff of the Orange's game against UCONN, Brown made a change and named Amari Odom the starting quarterback.
Steve Angeli must reclaim Syracuse starting job before Notre Dame football reunion
Odom wasn't flawless, but he was very good, completing 27 of 37 passes for 335 yards. He threw 5 touchdowns and threw just 2 interceptions. Most importantly, Syracuse beat the Huskies 42-41. After the game, Brown said the biggest reason he made the change at QB1 was that his team "had to win." More than anything, the coach's comment about why Angeli moved to the bench is the strongest indicator that he lost his starting spot for the foreseeable future.
"Just watching him all week and his legs and seeing what he could with his legs was better than what Steve (Angeli) could do with the legs right now...Steve is healthy and he was cleared and can play, but this kid (Odom) can do this. He can run and just figured could help with the RPOs (run pass options)"
On the other hand, on Monday, Brown made it clear that he wasn't promising Odom the starting job for the rest of the season.
"It's important that he continues to work and that it not be a one-hit wonder," Brown said. "Everything is about practice. You never know who's going to be starting...you better practice hard every day."
That leaves the door open for one more potential Steve Angeli comeback. It's only open a crack. Notre Dame will have to wait and see if he can kick it down in time for that long-awaited reunion that's been talked about for two years now.
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