Syracuse Overcomes 21-0 Deficit, Stuns No. 6 Miami.

SYRACUSE, N.Y. –– The Syracuse football team stormed back after trailing 21-0 early in the second quarter to capture its first victory over a top-10-ranked opponent since 2017, upsetting No. 6 University of Miami 42-38 on Saturday, Nov. 30, at the JMA Wireless Dome.

The regular season finale was the first meeting between the Orange and the Hurricanes in Syracuse since Nov. 30, 2002. Syracuse earned their first win against Miami since 1998, snapping a five-game losing streak, and won nine games for the first time since 2018.

In the first quarter, Miami’s high-powered offense had 11 first downs, 189 total yards of offense, and was 2 for 2 on third down. They scored two touchdowns on their first two drives, taking a 14-0 lead over Syracuse. Miami’s senior quarterback Cam Ward threw for 150 yards and a touchdown to senior wide receiver Xavier Restrepo.

Heisman Trophy candidate Ward connected on his second touchdown pass to junior tight end Elijah Arroyo early in the second quarter to extend the lead to 21-0.

The Orange showed they could light up the scoreboard with the best, responding with two touchdowns in the second quarter to make it a one-score game at the half. They were 5 for 6 on third down.

Junior running back LeQuint Allen scored his 13th rushing touchdown of the season. Senior quarterback Kyle McCord threw his 27th touchdown pass of the season to senior wide receiver Jackson Meeks. With his first touchdown of the game, McCord became the all-time Syracuse leader for passing touchdowns in a season.

Syracuse received the ball to start the second half and drove 75 yards on three plays in 39 seconds to tie the game at 21. Both teams scored three more times in the half.

Late in the third quarter, Syracuse junior defensive back Devin Grant forced a fumble, recovered it, and returned it 56 yards to the house to give the Orange their first lead, 35-28. The Orange outscored the Hurricanes 21-7 in the third quarter.

With under 10 minutes to go, Allen scored his second touchdown to make it 42-35 Syracuse. Then, the Hurricanes chose to kick a field goal with 3:42 to play on a fourth and goal from the Syracuse 10-yard line.

The Orange ran out the clock and won 42-38. Syracuse, down 21-0, completed its biggest comeback in program history. The win was only their third against a top-10-ranked team since 2002.

Syracuse earned four wins in November for the first time since 1997 and beat three-ranked opponents in a season for the first time since 1998.

McCord threw for 380 passing yards and three touchdowns. He became the first Syracuse quarterback in program history with 4,000 passing yards in a season. He said he wanted to be the one to bring Syracuse back to what it was.

“I couldn’t have done it obviously without the offensive line, receivers, running backs, all that, so to be a part of that team that turned things around and got things going in the right direction, I think that’s going to last forever,” McCord said

Syracuse head coach Fran Brown said he is proud of McCord.

“He will forever have a place in my heart, you know, will forever just be a part of my family. I’m very thankful for him,” Brown said.

McCord reflected on having Brown as his coach this year.

“He’s genuine, and if he said something, he’s going to do everything he can to prove that, you know, his word is true. I look back on it, and I think everything that he said came true,” McCord said.

The Orange finished 9-3 overall and 5-3 in the ACC. Next week, the team will learn its bowl game location and opponent.