Five games into the season and Syracuse football has a 4-1 record coming off their second-ranked win of the year against UNLV. The Orange's offense has been the strength of the team, averaging 36 points per game. While the Orange have talented players all over the field, first-year offensive coordinator Jeff Nixon is turning all that potential into points.  

Coming into the season, we knew the Syracuse Orange had plenty of talent on offense. Through five games, it’s translated into an explosive unit. After putting up a season-high 44 points against UNLV, the Orange are third in the nation in passing yards per game.

The man calling the plays, Syracuse offensive coordinator Jeff Nixon, is getting the most out of everyone.   

“We pride ourselves on trying to get our players in the best position possible to win a particular game,” said Nixon, a 27-year veteran with coaching experience at the NFL and collegiate levels.

It’s a journey that started as a graduate assistant for Penn State in 1997. He’s had a dozen stops along the way, coaching running backs, tight ends and wide receivers. Now, he’s with Syracuse after being the running backs coach for the New York Giants last year.   

“I’ve been with a lot of great coaches who I've learned from and who have kind of influenced, you know, my career," Nixon said. "And in that offense, you know, offenses that I've had a chance to coordinate."

He’s learned from some of the best coaches in the world, including Andy Reid, Chip Kelly and Brian Daboll. This is his third stint as an offensive coordinator. He was the interim offensive coordinator for the Carolina Panthers in 2021. All of that experience has helped shaped his mindset as a playcaller.   

“Just, like, to be aggressive. We want to attack the defense, whether it’s in the run or pass game,” he said.

The aggressiveness is clear.

Kyle McCord leads the nation in pass attempts, is second in passing touchdowns and fourth in yards. The Orange are averaging more than six yards per play, a significant improvement from their 4.8 mark last year.

“That’s what we’re pushing," said Syracuse Football Head Coach Fran Brown. "It's all about winning. It's about the S. I think his offense fits who Syracuse is, and it just shows you who he’s been throughout his career. And that’s why I wanted him to come here.”

What’s helped Nixon find success is his ability to adapt and learn from others. To do that, he goes back to some old friends.

“I enjoy watching, obviously, coach Reid and the Chiefs. They’re pretty cutting edge. I worked four years with Ben Johnson over in Detroit. He’s probably one of the top coordinators around right now,” Nixon said.   

He's constantly studying to help Syracuse win football games.

“I enjoy just learning football," he said. "I just enjoy learning new things. It’s fun during the week to get a chance to implement some of those things.”

Syracuse looks to improve to 5-1 on Saturday, when they face N.C. State starting at 8 p.m.