Syracuse football: Nightmare game for QB Kyle McCord in 41-13 loss to Pitt

Panthers hand the Orange second loss of the season

Ahead of the Syracuse Orange’s conference matchup with No. 19 Pitt, ESPN’s Pete Thamel broke the news on X/Twitter that LB Marlowe Wax and WR Trebor Pena would be available to play.

But, despite the positive news, the Orange, quite honestly, never gave itself a chance in this game. Syracuse (5-2, 2-2) found itself in an early deficit that proved to be too much to climb out of against Pitt (7-0, 3-0). The final score: 41-13 at Acrisure Stadium on Thursday night. Simply put, it’s hard to win college football games, and it’s harder to do it on the road, but it’s almost impossible when you turn the ball over four times in the first half — especially when three of those turnovers lead directly to 21 points for the opposition. And, it’s ironic because Syracuse played arguably its best defensive game this season — Pitt held to just 217 yards of total offense.

Something about bye weeks and Syracuse football, I don’t know…

Syracuse got off to a strong defensively. Pitt’s first offensive possession, a three-and-out — Syracuse DB Alijah Clark nearly came away with a pick on Pitt QB Eli Holstein’s first pass attempt.

On the other hand, pretty much everything went wrong on Syracuse’s first few offensive drives. QB Kyle McCord threw an early pick-six to Pitt LB Rasheem Biles, who returned it 35 yards for the score. The following possession, on third-and-long, McCord had a ball broken up the air, that eventually ended up in the hands of Pitt DB Brandon George at Pitt’s 44-yard line. Syracuse forced Pitt to kick a 49-yard field goal after the turnover, and Panthers K Ben Sauls drilled it. Pitt led 10-0 after seven minutes of action in the 1st quarter.

And, what looked like a promising drive for Syracuse turned into another absolute disaster. McCord’s 11th pass attempt, an interception returned 59 yards to the house by Pitt LB Kyle Louis. Pitt on top 17-0 at that point.

Syracuse held to zero points after 15 minutes of action, not exactly how Head Coach Fran Brown drew up the start of this game.

SU had a chance to get on the scoreboard on fourth down in the second quarter, a deep ball intended for Syracuse TE Oronde Gadsden just out of reach for the big target. The Panthers would gain possession of the football after the turnover on downs and score to push the lead to 24. Holstein linked up with his WR Censere Lee from 20 yards away, which capped off a seven-play 65-yard scoring drive.

On the next possession, Syracuse went three-and-out, and Pitt received the ball in good field position at its 35-yard line. A potential momentum swing for Syracuse, a dangerous pass by Holstein intercepted by Syracuse DB Marcellus Barnes, but the play was called dead on a questionable roughing the passer penalty given to Wax. The Orange defense would go on to get another stop, the score still 24-0 favor the Panthers midway through the second quarter.

Syracuse had another chance to put some points on the board late in the second quarter, but McCord took a sack from Biles — the LB that came away with the first pick-six — that pushed the offense out of field goal range. During the drive, Gadsden was spotted heading into the locker room with two minutes left in the half and later spotted on the sidelines in street clothes.

And, just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse, McCord’s 34th pass attempt intercepted for another pick-six — Pitt’s fourth interception and third pick-six of the game. Pitt went into the halftime break with a commanding 31-0 lead.

Prior to this game, only five FBS teams had returned three interceptions for scores since 2000, and it was the first time since Sept. 3, 2022 (USC), according to Pitt Athletics.

Syracuse came out of the half with the football, McCord still under center. The Orange eventually found the endzone on a one-yard rush touchdown from McCord to cap off an 18-play, nine-and-a-half-minute drive that included three fourth-down conversions. Brown elected to go for two points, but SU could not convert. Pitt up 31-6 with five minutes left in the third.

SU picked up another stop on defense to give the ball back to the offense — an opportunity for Syracuse to build some momentum. Four plays later, McCord picked off again (his fifth interception of the game), this time by Pitt DB Phillip O’Brien Jr. Pitt set up shop at Syracuse’s 45-yard line before it found the endzone on a 29-yard touchdown pass from Holstein to Pitt WR Raphael Williams Jr.

Into the fourth quarter, Sauls banged a 57-yard field goal, second longest in program history, that pushed the Panthers lead to 35. The score 41-6 favor Pitt with 11 minutes left in the fourth quarter.

Another long drive (11 plays) from Syracuse led to its second score of the game, but seemingly too little, too late. A two-yard rush touchdown from Syracuse TE Dan Villari to make it 41-13 with seven minutes left in the fourth.

The Orange look to rebound next week with a game at home on Saturday, November 2 against the Virginia Tech Hokies. Kickoff has yet to be announced by the ACC. It’ll be Syracuse’s first home game since September 28.