Kyle McCord records/ Syracuse Holiday Bowl win/ ACC passing record/ Syracuse vs. Washington State/ Holiday Bowl recap/ SAN DIEGO/ Newslooks/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Kyle McCord threw for 453 yards and five touchdowns, breaking Deshaun Watson’s ACC season passing record, as No. 22 Syracuse defeated Washington State 52-35 in the Holiday Bowl. LeQuint Allen added 120 rushing yards and two touchdowns, leading Syracuse to its first 10-win season since 2018. Washington State fought hard despite missing key players and coaches.
Holiday Bowl Recap: Quick Looks
- Record-Breaking Night: Kyle McCord broke the ACC single-season passing record with 4,779 yards.
- Syracuse Dominance: First 10-win season since 2018; Fran Brown joins elite coaching ranks.
- Offensive Stars: McCord threw for five TDs; LeQuint Allen rushed for 120 yards and 2 scores.
- Washington State Effort: Despite key absences, Zevi Eckhaus threw for 363 yards and 3 TDs.
- Key Plays: A 66-yard TD and a blocked punt kept WSU competitive early.
- Final Surge: Syracuse scored three second-quarter touchdowns to take control.
Syracuse Beats Washington State 52-35, McCord Sets ACC Record
Deep Look
Kyle McCord delivered a masterclass in quarterbacking to lead No. 22 Syracuse to a 52-35 victory over Washington State in the Holiday Bowl on Friday night in San Diego. McCord, who threw for 453 yards and five touchdowns, broke Deshaun Watson’s Atlantic Coast Conference single-season passing record, cementing his status as one of the nation’s premier passers.
Entering the game with 4,326 passing yards, McCord needed 268 yards to surpass Watson’s 2016 record of 4,593 yards. He accomplished the feat on Syracuse’s first play of the second half with a 50-yard pass to Darrell Gill Jr., who made a stunning over-the-shoulder catch. McCord finished the season with a remarkable 4,779 passing yards, 34 touchdowns, and numerous school records.
McCord had plenty of help as Syracuse (10-3) celebrated its first 10-win season since 2018. Running back LeQuint Allen rushed for 120 yards and two touchdowns, marking his second consecutive 1,000-yard season. Wide receiver Darrell Gill Jr. totaled 145 yards on four catches, while Jackson Meeks added 110 yards. Trebor Pena and Oronde Gadsden II each hauled in two touchdown passes from McCord.
Washington State (8-5) entered the game depleted, with more than 20 players entering the transfer portal, including quarterback John Mateer, and coach Jake Dickert departing for Wake Forest. Despite the challenges, backup quarterback Zevi Eckhaus stepped up with 363 passing yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions. Wide receiver Kyle Williams shined with 10 catches for 172 yards, breaking Dez Bryant’s Holiday Bowl receiving record.
The Cougars opened the scoring with a 4-yard rushing touchdown from Eckhaus and quickly added to their lead with a 66-yard touchdown catch by Williams and a blocked punt returned for a touchdown. However, Syracuse responded with three second-quarter touchdowns, including two passes to Oronde Gadsden II, building a 35-21 halftime lead.
Syracuse’s dominance continued in the second half as McCord and Allen powered the offense while the defense limited the Cougars’ chances. Fran Brown, in his first season as head coach, joined Paul Pasqualoni as the only Syracuse coaches since World War II to win 10 games in their debut season.
Takeaways
- Syracuse: Kyle McCord now holds single-season records for passing yards (4,779), touchdowns (34), completions (391), and attempts (558) at Syracuse. LeQuint Allen solidified his role as a premier rusher with back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons.
- Washington State: Despite key player and coaching losses, the Cougars displayed resilience. Zevi Eckhaus showed potential with a standout performance under tough circumstances.
Up Next
- Syracuse: The Orange face Tennessee in their 2025 season opener at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on August 30.
- Washington State: The Cougars will hire a new head coach before opening the season against Idaho in Pullman on August 30.
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