RALEIGH – Syracuse quarterback Kyle McCord threw for 346 yards and two touchdowns as the Orange (5-1, 2-1 ACC) defeated NC State (3-4, 0-3) 24-17 in front of 56,919 fans at Carter-Finley Stadium on Saturday night.
The Orange controlled the game's tempo, holding the ball for nearly 37 minutes while converting 8 of 15 third downs. Syracuse's offense generated 25 first downs and 424 total yards despite managing just 78 yards rushing against a stout Wolfpack front.
Jackson Meeks led all receivers with 11 catches for 116 yards, including a 2-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter that gave Syracuse a commanding 24-7 lead. Trebor Pena added eight receptions for 75 yards, while Oronde Gadsden II contributed six catches for 74 yards.
Syracuse built its lead methodically, starting with Jayden Oh's 32-yard field goal in the first quarter. The Orange extended their advantage to 10-0 in the second quarter when McCord found Umari Hatcher for a 28-yard touchdown strike.
NC State's offense showed explosiveness but lacked consistency, converting just 1 of 6 third downs. Quarterback CJ Bailey completed 17 of 24 passes for 329 yards and two touchdowns, but the Wolfpack was hampered by two costly fumbles.
The Wolfpack's Noah Rogers led all NC State receivers with 95 yards, including a 75-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter that cut Syracuse's lead to 24-14. Hollywood Smothers added three catches for 87 yards for NC State.
Syracuse's defense, led by Justin Barron's eight tackles, sack, and interception, kept pressure on Bailey throughout the night. Barron's 41-yard interception return in the third quarter set up Meeks' touchdown catch.
LeQuint Allen paced Syracuse's ground game with 91 yards on 21 carries, including a 4-yard touchdown run in the third quarter that pushed the Orange lead to 17-7.
NC State mounted a late comeback attempt, with Kanoah Vinesett connecting on a 29-yard field goal with 1:32 remaining to cut the deficit to seven. However, Syracuse ran out the final minutes to secure its fifth win of the season.
The Wolfpack's defense, despite the loss, showed resilience. DK Kaufman led all defenders with 11 tackles, while Devon Betty added 10 tackles and a half tackle for loss.
Syracuse's victory marked its second conference win of the season, while NC State remained winless in ACC play. The Orange's balanced offensive attack produced 346 passing yards and 78 rushing yards, while their defense forced three turnovers and limited NC State to just 82 yards on the ground.
The Wolfpack's explosive passing game generated several big plays, including completions of 75 and 72 yards, but their inability to sustain drives and protect the football proved costly. NC State's two fumbles led to 18 Syracuse points, ultimately providing the difference in the final margin.
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