Syracuse Football thwarts Miami’s championship hopes

Hundreds of SU fans rushed the JMA Wireless Dome field after the Orange upset the Hurricanes 42-38 in the season-ending game between the ACC opponents.

Syracuse capped head coach Fran Brown’s inaugural season with a 9-3 record and now awaits its bowl selection to be announced on Dec. 8. The loss by Miami (10-2) sent Clemson to Saturday’s ACC Championship game to face SMU.

On Saturday in the Dome, Heisman Trophy candidate quarterback Cam Ward helped Miami get off to a swift start and on their way to a resounding win.

Three touchdowns on the first three drives had the Hurricanes up 21-0 by early in the second quarter with Ward completing 8 for 10 passes for 150 yards and a touchdown. 

On the other side for the Orange, quarterback Kyle McCord connected with Trebor Pena for a 40-plus yard touchdown, which was called back for an illegal formation. Fans booed as the flag and call came in late while the extra point team was lining up for the field goal. 

The second quarter would tell a different story as the Orange would find their rhythm, starting with a big play for Justice Ross-Simmons who helped spark SU’s overtime win against Virginia Tech earlier this month.

With an opportunity to play spoiler and chance to restore a sense or pride in a storied football program on the line, Syracuse delivered a 1-2 punch Saturday to knock Miami out of contention for an ACC championship.

The big play from Ross-Simmons prompted the Orange’s first touchdown on an eight-yard run by LeQuint Allen. On that drive, McCord hit four different receivers, driving the ball down the field. This was followed by two more stops from the defense and another touchdown by the offense. 

McCord, whose favorite target all day was Jackson Meeks, found him in the corner of the endzone on a jump ball for the touchdown. 

“He’s probably the most competitive player I’ve ever played with, and when they left him one-on-one, I was gonna take that shot every time,” McCord said. 

Nonetheless, Miami would walk into the locker room at the end of the first half, still up a touchdown, 21-14. 

The Orange received the second-half kick and quickly drove down on two plays from Pena and McCord. A 50-yard deep shot and a 25-yard wheel route into the endzone tied the game at 21. 

Miami would also respond quickly, capping off their drive with a 4-yard touchdown run, 28-21. 

On the next drive, McCord and Meeks came back with another 9-yard touchdown, making the score 28-28. 

“Coach always preaches that as receivers the game is on us,” Meeks said. “We got to make the plays. Last week it was Gill, this week it was me, the week before it was Trebor and OG [Oronde Gadsden].” 

Fadil Diggs and Denis Jaquez Jr. combined for a sack on Miami’s next drive to make it third and forever. Ward then threw the ball away on third down. Miami’s punter struggled to get the ball off on fourth down, and Cuse got the ball on the 45-yard line. 

With excellent field position and marching down the field, Yasin Willis fumbled the ball on the 19-yard line. But the defense stood tall once again. Ward threw the ball to Restrepo, and Devin Grant punched it out, scooping it up and scoring from 56 yards out. 

The score gave Syracuse its first lead of the game, 35-21. 

The Orange held on to the lead until Ward and Restrepo connected for 40 yards, setting up a run from the two-yard line for a Miami touchdown. The Orange marched back down the field and let Allen score from four yards out to regain the lead, 42-35. 

Miami kicked a field goal with 5:27 left on the game clock and never saw the ball again.

“I always tell the coach at the end of the game: ‘number one is the toughest player on our team,’ ” coach Brown said. 

McCord’s final stat line was 26 for 36 for 380 yards and three touchdowns. When asked if the win against Miami was any more significant after Ohio State lost to Michigan today, he responded, “Everything comes full circle.”  

Syracuse will now play the waiting game to see what bowl they will play in. While many options exist after a 9-3 season, Brown is still unsatisfied. He is still looking to build, claiming this was not his goal; he wants a national championship. 

Miami is now out of the ACC championship game and has been replaced by Clemson.

“Dabo Swinney, congrats,” Brown said.  “I got you in, baby.”