Syracuse Football: Quarterback Kyle McCord continues to rewrite 'Cuse record books

Quarterback Kyle McCord has only gotten to suit up on the Hill for one season, but he's made it a magical one with Syracuse football.

The 6-foot-3, 220-pound native of Mount Laurel, N.J., in the first half against No. 6 Miami in the 2024 regular-season finale for the Orange, set another single-season program record in his historic senior year in Central New York.

On Saturday afternoon, inside a loud JMA Wireless Dome, the 'Cuse fell behind the Hurricanes (10-1, 6-1 in the ACC) by a count of 21-0. Things didn't look good for the Orange, although the team did have an early touchdown negated by a penalty that I thought was a questionable call by the officials.

However, first-year head coach Fran Brown, his top-flight staff and their 2024 roster never quit fighting. The 'Cuse would go on to score 14 unanswered points in the second quarter to trim its deficit to 21-14 at the intermission, with the Orange (8-3, 4-3 in the ACC) having the ball first in the third quarter.

Syracuse football senior quarterback Kyle McCord has another program record.

In the second quarter, McCord threw a nine-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Jackson Meeks. That gave McCord his 27th touchdown pass in 2024, and he broke the previous 'Cuse single-season mark of 26 from Ryan Nassib.

A huge congrats to McCord, a four-star transfer from Ohio State. In the first half against Miami, McCord completed 16-of-24 attempts for 156 yards and that one score.

His counterpart at Miami, senior Cam Ward, who is a potential Heisman Trophy finalist, went 11-of-16 in the first half for 184 passing yards and two touchdowns through the air.

Heading into this week-14 showdown with the Hurricanes, McCord had completed 65.3 percent of his passes for 3,946 yards and 26 touchdowns against 12 interceptions. Before week 14, McCord was No. 1 in the country in total passing yards, completions per game, and passing yards per contest.

On the Hill, in addition to his new single-season record for touchdown passes, he has also set Syracuse football program marks for total completions and total passing yards.

It's proven a special 2024 term for McCord and the Orange, and hopefully, the 'Cuse can contain Ward in the second half and spring a massive upset of the Hurricanes in this regular-season finale.

Syracuse football is already going bowling for the third straight year, but a triumph over Miami would catapult the Orange into the top 25 of the College Football Playoff rankings and propel the 'Cuse to a top-tier bowl game.