San Diego, CA—-Kyle McCord delivered a record-breaking performance with 453 passing yards and five touchdowns, propelling No. 22 Syracuse to a 52-35 win over Washington State in the Holiday Bowl on Friday night. His efforts shattered Deshaun Watson’s Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) single-season passing record, cementing McCord’s place in history.
LeQuint Allen contributed significantly with 120 rushing yards and two touchdowns, marking his second consecutive 1,000-yard season for the Orange (10-3). This season also secured Syracuse’s first 10-win campaign since 2018. Head coach Fran Brown joined an exclusive club, becoming just the second Orange coach since World War II—alongside Paul Pasqualoni in 1991—to achieve a 10-win season in his debut year.
McCord, who entered the game as the nation’s leading passer with 4,326 yards, needed 268 yards to surpass Watson’s 2016 record of 4,593 yards set in 15 games at Clemson. He broke the record with a 50-yard strike to Darrell Gill Jr. on the first play of the second half, finishing the season with 4,779 passing yards. McCord’s final stat line included 24 completions on 34 attempts, while Gill tallied 145 yards on four receptions. Jackson Meeks added 110 yards on five catches, and Trebor Pena and Oronde Gadsden each hauled in two touchdown passes.
Despite a tumultuous lead-up to the game, Washington State (8-5) put up a valiant effort. The Cougars had lost head coach Jake Dickert to Wake Forest, quarterback John Mateer to Oklahoma, and several key staff members, while over 20 players entered the transfer portal. Backup quarterback Zevi Eckhaus stepped up admirably, throwing for 363 yards and three touchdowns, though he also tossed two interceptions. Kyle Williams shone with 10 receptions for 172 yards, breaking Dez Bryant’s 2008 Holiday Bowl record for receiving yards.
The Cougars started strong, taking a 21-14 lead late in the first quarter. Williams turned a short pass into a 66-yard touchdown, and Leon Neal Jr. blocked a Syracuse punt that Josh Meredith returned 12 yards for a score. However, Syracuse responded decisively in the second quarter with three touchdowns, including two McCord passes to Oronde Gadsden II and a 2-yard run by Allen, securing a 35-21 halftime lead.
Key Takeaways
- Syracuse: Kyle McCord extended his single-season school records with 4,779 passing yards, 34 touchdowns, 391 completions, and 558 attempts.
- Washington State: Despite multiple setbacks, the Cougars showed resilience, with standout performances by Zevi Eckhaus and Kyle Williams.
Syracuse entered the game as 17-point favorites and delivered on those expectations, capping off a memorable season with a convincing Holiday Bowl victory.
