In a thrilling Holiday Bowl matchup, Kyle McCord showcased his impressive prowess on the field by throwing for 453 yards and five touchdowns, breaking Deshaun Watson’s Atlantic Coast Conference passing record. His astounding performance led the No. 22 Syracuse Orange to a commanding 52-35 victory over a resilient Washington State team.
LeQuint Allen contributed significantly to Syracuse’s success, rushing for 120 yards and scoring two touchdowns, marking his second consecutive season with over 1,000 rushing yards. This victory not only secured the Orange’s tenth win of the season, their first since 2018, but also made head coach Fran Brown only the second Syracuse coach since World War II, alongside Paul Pasqualoni, to win ten games in his debut season.
McCord entered the game as the national leader in passing yards, already hitting 4,326 yards before the match. He needed just 268 yards to surpass Watson’s previous record of 4,593 yards, set in 2016. McCord achieved that milestone on the very first play of the second half with a stunning 50-yard pass to Darrell Gill Jr., who made a spectacular catch. By the end of the game, McCord had elevated his season total to an impressive 4,779 yards.
Despite their loss, Washington State fought valiantly as they faced challenges with a depleted roster, losing key coach Jake Dickert and several players to transfer. Quarterback Zevi Eckhaus, who had limited playing time prior to the game, managed to throw for 363 yards and three touchdowns, showcasing his potential under pressure. One bright spot for the Cougars was Kyle Williams, who set a Holiday Bowl record with 172 receiving yards.
The game saw a back-and-forth battle early on, with Washington State surprising Syracuse by briefly taking a 21-14 lead before the Orange responded with a strong second quarter.
As Syracuse prepares for its 2025 season opener against Tennessee, they look to build on this successful year, while Washington State will be focusing on finding a new head coach in anticipation of their matchup against Idaho.
In summary, this Holiday Bowl not only highlighted individual talent and records but also showed the character and competitiveness of both teams. As the off-season approaches, Syracuse fans can celebrate a prosperous season, while Washington State looks to rebuild and regroup for future challenges. This game serves as a reminder of the resilience and excitement that college football brings.