Pittsburgh — Pittsburgh intercepted Kyle McCord five times and returned three for touchdowns, handing the Orange a disastrous 41-13 defeat at Acrisure Stadium on Thursday night.
The Panthers (7-0, 3-0 ACC) scored 41 points on just 178 yards of total offense, remaining unbeaten and ending any hopes the Orange (5-2, 2-2) harbored of making a run toward the College Football Playoff.
It was the kind of thorough domination by the Panthers that has marked the recent series. Pittsburgh has now won 17 of the past 20 games and head coach Pat Narduzzi’s teams have generally overwhelmed the Orange with blitzing.
That was the case again for the Orange offense, the strength of the team all season, which surrendered four sacks and eight quarterback hurries. Syracuse has failed to score more than 20 points in five of the last six and the only time it did was last year, when the Orange won behind a throwback offense spearheaded by the running of Dan Villari.
McCord’s five interceptions tied a Syracuse record for the most in school history, joining Todd Norley and Greg Paulus. Three of them were tipped. McCord finished 35 of 64 for 321 yards. He did not have a touchdown pass.
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Fourth quarter
Syracuse missed field goal
1:55: Jaydn Oh’s field goal try goes wide left. That issue remains unresolved.
2:26: Kyle McCord scrambles back and stumbles down for a long loss. Looked like his ankle gave way. That would be a fitting penultimate final play for the Orange as it sets up a 4th-and-26 from the Pitt 30.
3:47: McCord complete to Villari over the middle. Now what I believe is the first pass interference penalty against Pitt. Orange have the ball on the 14.
4:03: Now a Pitt player down after the play. Kyle McCord still in the game despite a 41-13 lead for Pittsburgh.
4:23: Syracuse running back Yasin Willis down after the play. Syracuse doesn’t have a ton of depth there.
SCORE: Pittsburgh 41, Syracuse 13
7:23: Syracuse has embarked on a long drive, moving inside the Pitt 10-yard-line on a 21-yard pass from McCord to Dan Villari. Then the Orange run a little throwback offense with Villari carrying for 2 yards. Villari then plunges in from the 2.
SCORE: Pittsburgh 41, Syracuse 6
11:13: Ben Sauls kicks a 57-yard field goal. That is the third-longest kick in Pitt history. Sauls made a 58-yard field goal two weeks ago.
12:54: Holstein fumbles the snap. It doesn’t matter. He picks it up and finds tight end Gavin Bartholomew for 21 yards on a broken play. After moving Pitt to the Syracuse 34, Holstein looked like he was having trouble with his vision and headed to the injury tent.
Syracuse punt
13:58: Kyle McCord hits LeQuint Allen in the hands. It is dropped. Allen runs for 3. Another McCord pass goes off the hands of the Pitt defense. Syracuse will punt on 4th-and-6 from its 29. That should do it for any hopes of a miracle.
14:54: Syracuse starts on its 25 following a touchback
SCORE: Pittsburgh 38, Syracuse 6
14:54: Pittsburgh touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter.
Kyle McCord’s 5 interceptions are a Syracuse record. He ties Todd Norley and Greg Paulus as quarterbacks who have thrown five.
Third quarter
0:00: Pittsburgh will open the 4th quarter on the Syracuse 29.
:37: Des Reid up the middle for 13.
Pittsburgh interception
:46: Kyle McCord’s pass over the middle intercepted by Phillip O’Brien. That’s five interceptions on the day for McCord.
1:22: McCord complete to Gill for 15 yards. Then LeQuint Allen runs for 4. McCord throws to Allen but it results in no gain after a nice open-field tackle by the Panthers. Snap infraction called on Josh Illoa.
Pittsburgh punt
3:53: Holstein up the middle for 8 and then Syracuse forces a fourth down by stopping Des Reid for no game. Pitt’s punt unit will come on. Pena fair catches the ball on the 12.
4:56: Holstein with a pair of 6-yard passes to pick up a first down. Des Reid stopped for a loss of 1 on the next set of downs.
5:22: Pitt takes over on its 25-yard-line after a touchback
SCORE: Pittsburgh 31, Syracuse 6
5:47: McCord pushes the ball forward to Trebor Pena, who was running a jet sweep style motion. That picks up 2. Now 2nd-and-goal from the 1. LeQuint Allen is stuffed for no gain to set up third down. But McCord is able to crack the goal-line with a quarterback sneak. The two-point conversion try is broken as Pittsburgh knocks down a Kyle McCord pass in the backfield.
7:52: Kyle McCord feigns confusion on 3rd-and-2 and SU goes with a direct snap to LeQuint Allen. That goes for 1. McCord picks up the first down on a sneak.
8:10: Syracuse currently has a 3rd-and-2 from the Pitt 5. Currently an injury timeout as trainers tend to an injured Pittsburgh player.
8:52: McCord goes over the top to Jackson Meeks and Syracuse has reached the Pitt red zone. Syracuse calls a timeout at the Pittsburgh 13.
9:54: Holding called on David Clement sets up 1st-and-22 from the Pitt 42. McCord’s throw is incomplete.
10:21: McCord picks up the first down with a back-shoulder throw to LeQuint Allen.
10:28: McCord completes to Pena for 20 yards into Pittsburgh territory. He goes deep to Umari Hatcher on the next play but it’s well-defended by Pitt. He hits Pena over the middle for 7. LeQuint Allen is swarmed in the backfield for no gain. That sets up 4th-and-3. Pitt calls timeout.
13:25: Syracuse goes for it on 4th-and-1. McCord picks it up on a quarterback sneak.
14:56: Malachi James returns the ball to the Syracuse 27.
Halftime stats
At the half, Kyle McCord is 16-for-34 for 130 yards. He has thrown four interceptions with three being returned for touchdowns. Pittsburgh has 31 points on 83 yards.
Halftime
0:00: We go to the half with Pittsburgh leading 31-0.
1:06: McCord sacked by Lovelace and he loses 15 yards. Syracuse then gets a solid run by LeQuint Allen but it’s called back for a hold on Jakob Bradford. What a disaster.
SCORE: Pitt 31, Syracuse 0
1:23: McCord’s screen pass was tipped and intercepted by Pitt linebacker Braylan Lovelace who returned it for a touchdown.
Pitt punt
1:32: Holstein throws high and Pitt will punt from its 19. Trebor Pena returns it to the Syracuse 38.
1:38: Syracuse calls timeout on a pitch-and-catch out wide. Pitt will have a 3rd-and-6 from its own 18.
1:52: Pitt moves back 8 yards on a half the distance holding call. I’d think Pitt will run clock here with a big lead and an iffy offense.
2:00: Pitt picks up 2 yards on a short run.
Syracuse punt
2:17: Kyle McCord spun down for a loss of 15, setting up a 4th-and-28 from midfield. Pitt calls timeout with 2:17 left in the half. Syracuse punt is fair-caught by Pitt at its 13.
4:38: McCord tries to beat Pitt deep but can’t connect with Umari Hatcher. McCord squeezes one to LeQuint Allen for 6.
5:17: McCord to Villari for 5 yards. Syracuse picks up a first down on an offsides penalty, which moves the Orange over midfield.
5:27: McCord throws incomplete on first down.
6:37: McCord to Hatcher for no gain. McCord picks up 15 on a pass to Emanuel Ross.
7:56: Willis runs for no gain on second down. McCord picks up a first down with a throw outside to Hatcher.
8:19: McCord to Gadsden for 5 yards. Gadsden is down after the play. He walks off under his own power.
Pittsburgh punt
9:04: Syracuse gets another stop, this time stopping Eli Holstein on what looked like a called QB keeper. Duce Chestnut made the tackle and Pitt brings on its punt unit. Trebor Pena fair catches the ball on his 16.
11:15: Pitt picks up 7 yards on a screen. Holstein sacked for a loss of 5 yards on second down. Holstein throws an interception and Marlowe Wax is called for a late hit on the quarterback. Looked like a pretty weak call and that Wax was just making a play. Wax immediately protested. But to no avail. Pitt will have a first down on its 44.
Syracuse punt
11:25: Syracuse punt and Pittsburgh will start on its 28
12:25: McCord throws wide of Allen on first down. McCord complete to Gadsden for 4. McCord again in the grasp of a Pittsburgh player, hurls the ball away as he’s about to fall on his knees. Syracuse will punt.
12:30: Syracuse will start on its 25 after a touchback.
SCORE: Pittsburgh 24, Syracuse 0
12:30: Incomplete pass by Eli Holstein on 1st and 10 from the 25. Holstein was stopped in the backfield but broke a tackle and picked up 5. Holstein finds Lee Censere over the middle. The throw beats Justin Barron in coverage. Censere beats Devin Grant into the end zone.
13:51: Des Reid runs for 5. Then rushes for 10. Pittsburgh approaching the Syracuse red zone.
14:11: Pitt opens with an option. Eli Holstein keeps for 8. Pitt picks up the first down on a short run and it’s compounded by an illegal hands to the face by Chase Simmons.
Syracuse turnover on downs
14:51: McCord’s first quarter numbers (9-for-19 for 85 yards and three interceptions). McCord’s pass to Jackson Meeks knocked down. Meeks wanted a call. Pitt’s defensive backs are notoriously handsy but have not been called for anything tonight. On 4th-and-6, McCord overthrow Oronde Gadsden II who did have a step on his defender in the end zone.
First quarter
0:00 McCord escapes pressure and avoids a sacks by tossing the ball in Jackson Meeks’ direction while in the grasp and before his knee touches. Then McCord flips the ball to Allen for 4. Syracuse will have a 3rd-and-6 to open the second quarter.
1:13: McCord takes a shot and completes a pass to Jackson Meeks for 6.
1:51: McCord to Pena for 16 yards sets up a 4th-and-5 on the Pitt 45.
2:16: LeQuint Allen runs for no gain. Syracuse makes Pitt pay for sending pressure with a nice screen pass to Yasin Willis for 12 yards, then converts again but a long pass play is called back on a hold by Yasin Willis. Syracuse calls another screen, this one to LeQuint Allen and this one for just 3. McCord hits Darrell Gill Jr. in the hands on 2nd-and-16 but he drops the crossing pattern. That’s followed by a false start on Umari Hatcher. Now a 3rd-and-21.
4:45: LeQuint Allen with a nice run on first down, hurdling a defender on his way to an 8-yard gain. Allen stuffed for a loss of 3 on second down, setting up a 3rd-and-5. McCord picks up the first down conversion with a pitch-and-catch to Trebor Pena.
6:23: Syracuse starts on its 25 after a touchback. There is a Pittsburgh player down after the kickoff. It was defensive back Josh McCarty.
SCORE: Pittsburgh 17, Syracuse 0
6:23: Another Pittsburgh interception, this one by Kyle Louis. This one is also returned for an interception, this one covering 51 yards. First time since 2022 for Pittsburgh with two interceptions returned for a touchdown. McCord came into the game with 6 interceptions. Now he has 9.
6:42: Syracuse calls a timeout facing 2nd-and-12. McCord’s throw is behind Hatcher and falls incomplete.
7:51: Syracuse picks up 2 yards on first down. Incomplete on second. Joe Cruz on this drive at right guard. Cruz hits Oronde Gadsen up the seam for a first down and moves SU into Pitt territory.
8:28: Syracuse starts this possession on its 25 after a touchback
SCORE: Pittsburgh 10, Syracuse 0
8:28: A Pitt screen pass goes for a loss of 3 yards. Pitt picks 5 back on a run by Rodney Hammond. Holstein throws behind his receiver on third down and Pitt’s excellent kicker comes on. Ben Sauls is good from 49 yards. He’s made 13 straight, which is a new Pittsburgh record.
9:58: Des Reid rushes for 9 yards on first down then plows two up the middle for a first down.
11:31: McCord’s pass knocked down in the backfield against a heavy rush, followed by a LeQuint Allen run for no gain. The 3rd-and-10 pass is defected high into the air and lands in the hands of Brandon George. Second interception for McCord.
11:58: Syracuse starts this drive with a 6-yard by LeQuint Allen, followed by a 4-yard run for a first down.
12:47: Syracuse starts on its 25 after a touchback
SCORE: Pittsburgh 7, Syracuse 0
12:47: McCord throws high to Emanuel Ross. Then his fourth pass is intercepted by Rasheem Biles and returned 35 yards for a touchdown. Pitt converts the extra point. He’s the first linebacker to return an interception for a touchdown since SirVocea Dennis, the Christian Brothers Academy product.
13:37: McCord’s first pass in underthrown to Umari Hatcher and could have been intercepted. McCord escapes a sack and throws to Jackson Meeks in a scramble situation. Syracuse picks up 10 yards.
13:43: Pittsburgh punt. Trebor Pena returns to the SU 23.
15:00: Pitt starts its opening drive from its 25 after a touchback. Marlowe Wax starting for the Orange. Des Reid runs for 2 yards on first down, followed by a bad pass from Eli Holstein that could have been intercepted. Syracuse forces to Holstein to scramble on 3rd-and-8 and he picks up 1 yard.
Pregame
Pitt wins the coin toss and chooses to play offense first
Syracuse sends out its offensive line (other than center J’Onre Reed) as the game captains.
Update 6:15 p.m.: Linebacker Marlowe Wax and slot receiver Trebor Pena will play tonight, the school said.
Wax, a preseason All-ACC linebacker and one of the team‘s top defensive players, would make his first appearance since suffering a lower-leg injury in the team’s season-opening win against Ohio.
His return can be considered a pleasant surprise after coach Fran Brown said earlier in the week Wax likely wouldn’t play this week.
Pena, who leads the team in receptions, did not finish the Orange’s 24-17 win at N.C. State on Oct. 12. Brown cast doubt on his playing status earlier in the week by saying Pena could not practice, alluding to a concussion and an undisclosed injury.
The game between the two Northeast rivals is likely the biggest between the two since at least 1991, when both teams entered the midseason matchup ranked in the national polls.
Pittsburgh (6-0, 2-0 ACC) will be looking to remain unbeaten. Syracuse (5-1, 2-1) is looking to remain alive in the College Football Playoff race and beat its third AP Top 25 ranked opponent (at time of the game). The Orange hasn’t accomplished that feat since 1998.
The Panthers seem more vulnerable than their record indicates, needing to win two of those games on dramatic comebacks and a third on a missed field goal attempt by California. Still, Pitt has owned the recent history between the schools (16-3 in the last 19 meetings) and Syracuse hasn’t won at Pitt since 2001.
Pittsburgh is known for consistently blitzing under head coach Pat Narduzzi and is tied for fourth in the ACC, averaging three sacks per game.
Syracuse quarterback Kyle McCord has been tremendous against the blitz this season while ranking second overall in the conference in passing yards, but he is expected to have to operate without Trebor Peña, who leads the team in catches.
Peña was unable to practice on Tuesday after taking a blow to the head in SU’s last game against North Carolina State. He thrives underneath on the types of throws required to beat blitzes.
The status of two of Pittsburgh’s starting offensive linemen (left tackle Branson Taylor and left guard Ryan Jacoby) is uncertain. Both left the Panthers’ most recent win against Cal with injuries and did not return.
First appeared on www.syracuse.com