QB Kyle McCord in the record books as Syracuse football defeats pesky UConn at home

Syracuse football notched its eighth win of the 2024 regular season on Saturday afternoon at the JMA Wireless Dome, but it wasn't easy.

The Orange, playing on its senior day, encountered former Big East Conference rival UConn (7-4), which these days is an FBS independent in football. The Huskies put up one heck of a fight on the road, but the 'Cuse ultimately prevailed by a final count of 31-24 to improve to 7-6 in its all-time series with Connecticut.

With this result, the Orange (8-3, 4-3 in the ACC) achieved an eighth win in a regular season for only the third time since 2000, with the other two occasions being the 2001 and 2018 campaigns, per SU Athletics.

Credit first-year head coach Fran Brown and his staff for doing a tremendous job so far in 2024, and the 'Cuse has one more regular-season contest. Next Saturday afternoon, Syracuse football will host top-10 Miami, and the Orange has already clinched post-season bowl eligibility for the third consecutive year.

On Saturday, at halftime during a beautiful ceremony, the late Dick MacPherson, a legendary former head coach of Syracuse football, was inducted into the SU Athletics Ring of Honor. In the second half, on the ACC Network broadcast, famed sportscaster and Syracuse University alum Sean McDonough provided some touching remarks about his mentor, MacPherson. It was lovely.

Syracuse football finished its non-conference docket at a perfect 4-0.

Before we get to Orange senior quarterback Kyle McCord and his record-setting day, let's go through some other stats from this victory by the 'Cuse over UConn. Syracuse football, despite winning by only a touchdown, held a 15-minute edge in time of possession.

In total yardage, the Orange led 538 to 352. The 'Cuse, as I will get to shortly, dominated through the air, while the Huskies fared better on the ground. UConn had 124 rushing yards and averaged 7.3 yards per carry. Conversely, Syracuse football generated just 68 yards on the ground and a mere 2.1 yards per carry.

The penalty department, often a hot-button topic among 'Cuse fans, went like this. The Huskies had four penalties for 45 yards, while Syracuse football committed seven penalties for 56 yards.

McCord, the four-star transfer from Ohio State, was stellar. He completed nearly 79 percent of his passes for a whopping 470 yards and two touchdowns through the air. McCord, who also had a rushing score, now has the second-highest single-game total in program history with those 470 passing yards.

Per Syracuse football, McCord has set a 'Cuse single-season record for passing yards. And he's tied with Ryan Nassib for the most single-season touchdown passes, at 26, in program history. I hope that McCord can break that touchdown mark next Saturday in the regular-season finale against the Hurricanes.

Three Syracuse football players tallied at least 100 receiving yards. Sophomore wide receiver Darrell Gill Jr. had 177 yards. Senior wide receiver Jackson Meeks produced 110 yards, while redshirt junior tight end Oronde Gadsden II netted 103 yards plus one score through the air.

Junior running back LeQuint Allen Jr. had a combined 88 rushing/receiving yards, and he scored one touchdown on the ground.

On the defensive side, senior edge Fadil Diggs collected a sack, and senior defensive back Clarence Lewis had three pass break-ups. In total tackles, freshman defensive back Davien Kerr and senior linebacker Marlowe Wax Jr. led the way with seven each.