The Syracuse Orange are wrapping up spring practice, and the quarterback conversation is heating up. CBS Sports recently released its way-too-early 2026 quarterback rankings, projecting Notre Dame transfer Steve Angeli as the Orange's starter and placing him 42nd nationally among Power 4 QBs. More notably for ACC fans, that slots him in at 7th within the conference.

For a Syracuse team looking to rebound from a tough 2025 season, Angeli's ranking offers a glimmer of optimism. CBS notes that before a season-ending injury against Clemson in Week 4, Angeli led the Orange to a 3-1 record in his four starts, throwing 10 touchdown passes. His absence was profoundly felt, as the offense struggled and the team dropped its final eight games.

While Angeli is the projected QB1, he won't be on the field for Saturday's spring game as he continues his recovery. This has opened the door for others to make an impression, with transfer Amari Odom reportedly emerging as a standout this spring. He, along with fellow newcomers Malachi Nelson and Danny Lauter, will be under the microscope from fans eager to see who can lead the charge this fall.

The ACC quarterback landscape is stacked, with CBS's top national rankings featuring Dante Moore (Oregon), Julian Sayin (Ohio State), and Arch Manning (Texas). For Syracuse, the development of its quarterback room will be the key storyline as the team looks to climb the conference ranks and build a more competitive offense for the season ahead.