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Syracuse shocks Clemson with risky onside kick

Orange stun Death Valley crowd with fearless call that paid off

In a place where few visiting teams find success, Syracuse opened its ACC schedule by showing no fear inside Death Valley. The Orange not only jumped on Clemson early, but they took a gamble that silenced the Tigers’ faithful before the first quarter was halfway done.

Just four minutes into the game, head coach Fran Brown called for an onside kick with Syracuse already leading 7-0. The attempt caught Clemson completely off guard. After review, officials confirmed the recovery, giving the Orange possession again and leaving the Tigers stunned.

That decision set the tone for what followed. Syracuse’s special teams pulled off a textbook kick, proving the team’s preparation matched its ambition.

With aggressive play-calling, Brown doubled down by going for it on fourth down, keeping Clemson’s defense off balance and the crowd uneasy.

Brown helped give Syracuse momentum that mattered. The early possession swing fueled a 10-0 lead, and quarterback Steve Angeli directed the offense despite briefly leaving with an injury scare.

This was the same Clemson team expected to contend nationally, led by Cade Klubnik, once a Heisman favorite. Instead, it was Syracuse leaving with control of the game and their ACC hopes alive.

The onside kick wasn’t just a spark, it was a statement. Syracuse proved it came to take, not to wait.