NCAAF

Syracuse Orange at NC State Wolfpack

· NCAA - Football
5-1, 2-0 Away
Final
24 - 17
3-4, 3-2 Home

Kyle McCord steers Syracuse to 24-17 road win at NC State

Umari Hatcher makes the grab for 28-yard receiving touchdown

McCord connected on 31 of 42 passes for the Orange (5-1, 2-1 Atlantic Coast Conference), while LeQuint Allen supplemented Syracuse’s offensive attack with 119 yards of total offense and a touchdown on 23 touches. Jackson Meeks hauled in 11 passes for 116 yards and one of McCord's scores.

“Just thankful that we’ve been able to start off pretty good,” first-year Syracuse coach Fran Brown said. “I thought we gave up too many big plays, but we were able to complement each other… I’m just happy for Syracuse University right now.”

The Wolfpack (3-4, 0-3) were powered by true freshman quarterback CJ Bailey, who completed 17 of 24 throws for a season-high 329 yards and two touchdowns. Bailey also rushed for a team-high 28 yards.

With a 17-7 lead late in the third quarter, the momentum of the game shifted to Syracuse’s favor when Justin Barron intercepted Bailey and returned it 53 yards. That halted an eight-play Wolfpack drive that was nearing the red zone. Syracuse responded with an eight-play drive of its own that ended with McCord finding Meeks for a touchdown on a fourth-and-goal.

“We talk about it every week, the guys know it, the most important thing on the field is the ball,” Wolfpack coach Dave Doeren said. "There’s a reason they named the game after it. We’re not coveting the ball enough. We got to get back to protecting the football. That’s how you win games.”

N.C. State responded quickly, with Bailey finding Noah Rogers for a 75-yard catch-and-run touchdown, but Syracuse took more than six minutes off the clock with its next possession. The Wolfpack trimmed the deficit with a field goal, but the Orange cleanly recovered an onside kick attempt and drained what time remained.

THE TAKEAWAY

Syracuse: With McCord leading the way, the Orange won in Raleigh for the first time since 2013. He entered this game leading the nation in completions, and McCord has now passed for more than 300 yards in all six games this year, which ties a single-season program record for Syracuse. The transfer from Ohio State has provided a big boost to the Orange under Brown.

N.C. State: The Wolfpack have now suffered back-to-back losses at home for the first time since 2019. It was another game where N.C. State — which ranked 107th nationally in total offense entering Saturday — lost the turnover battle, 3-0, allowing the Orange to score off each of its crucial errors. Syracuse had possession for 13 minutes longer than N.C. State did, allowing the Orange to run 31 more plays than the Wolfpack.

BIG GAME FOR BARRON

Barron's opportunistic play on defense helped Syracuse win two consecutive road games for the first time since 2012. In addition to his interception — just the second of the fifth-year defensive back's career — Barron also recovered a fumble in the second quarter.

“It’s exciting. We’ve been preaching it all season, and we really focused in on it and were able to get the ball,” Barron said. “It’s something that you really see on film, just the way the ball carriers carry the ball. They were carrying it really loose.”

Barron led Syracuse in tackles with eight, one of which was a crucial sack of Bailey on a third down in the fourth quarter.

UP NEXT

Syracuse: After a bye, the Orange play at No. 22 Pittsburgh on Oct. 24.

N.C. State: The Wolfpack travel to the West Coast to face California on Saturday.

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How To Watch

How can I watch Syracuse Orange vs. NC State Wolfpack?
  • TV Channel: Orange at Wolfpack 2021 College Football, week 7, is broadcasted on ACC Network.
  • Online streaming: Sign up for Fubo.

Matchup Prediction

Wolfpack: 42.8%
Orange: 57.2%
*According to ESPN's Basketball Power Index

Scoring Summary

SYR FG 1st Period 8:13 Jadyn Oh 32 Yd Field Goal
SYR TD 2nd Period 2:33 Umari Hatcher 28 Yd pass from Kyle McCord (Jadyn Oh Kick)
NCSU TD 2nd Period 0:31 Justin Joly 14 Yd pass from CJ Bailey (Kanoah Vinesett Kick)
SYR TD 3rd Period 6:39 LeQuint Allen 4 Yd Run (Jadyn Oh Kick)
SYR TD 4th Period 10:20 Jackson Meeks 2 Yd pass from Kyle McCord (Jadyn Oh Kick)
NCSU TD 4th Period 9:31 Noah Rogers 75 Yd pass from CJ Bailey (Kanoah Vinesett Kick)
NCSU FG 4th Period 1:32 Kanoah Vinesett 29 Yd Field Goal

Statistics

https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/ncaa/500/183.png&h=100&scale=crop&w=100&location=originSYR https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/ncaa/500/152.png&h=100&scale=crop&w=100&location=originNCSU
25 1st Downs 18
8-15 3rd down efficiency 1-6
1-3 4th down efficiency 1-1
424 Total Yards 411
346 Passing 329
31/43 Comp/Att 17/24
8.0 Yards per pass 13.7
78 Rushing 82
33 Rushing Attempts 21
2.4 Yards per rush 3.9
8-50 Penalties 6-42
0 Turnovers 3
0 Fumbles lost 2
0 Interceptions thrown 1
36:52 Possession 23:08

Game Information

Carter-Finley Stadium

Location: Raleigh, NC
Attendance: 56,919 · Capacity:
Full Standings

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