Joseph Filardi’s name isn’t even listed on the Syracuse football depth chart that’s in the JMA Wireless Dome press box on Friday night.
But that’s reportedly who SU will be starting as its quarterback against Bill Belichick’s North Carolina anyway.
Multiple local reporters have broken the news of Filardi’s start, including Matt Mulcahy and Kevin Maher, along with ESPN’s Pete Thamel.
It’s a plot twist, to say the least.
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Why is Syracuse starting Joseph Filardi at QB?
This all started with Steve Angeli’s season-ending Achilles injury.
Angeli was shining early in the year after transferring from Notre Dame, but when he went down, everything changed.
The LSU transfer Rickie Collins stepped in but hasn’t been good enough for the Orange.
SU has Luke Carney and Jakhari Williams listed on the depth chart behind Collins, but they aren’t getting the call from head coach Fran Brown.
Syracuse starter Joseph Filardi isn’t even listed on the depth chart given out in the press box tonight. SU Athletics seemingly confirms his start by posting him on Instagram. pic.twitter.com/QxJnwh7YPL
— Aiden Stepansky (@AidenStepansky) October 31, 2025
Syracuse has evidently decided it needs a spark from an unexpected place.
UNC hasn’t won in the ACC yet this season. This would definitely qualify as the Tar Heels’ best chance.
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Who is Joseph Filardi?
Joseph Filardi is a Syracuse University freshman on campus to play both football and lacrosse.
He went to Half Hollow Hills West High School, which is about halfway out Long Island.
Filardi hasn’t even been around long enough to have a filled in bio page on the Syracuse website yet.
But he gets the start at quarterback out of nowhere on Friday night anyway.
