November 30, 2024; Syracuse, New York, USA; Syracuse Orange quarterback Kyle McCord (6) drops back to pass in the first half against the Miami Hurricanes at the JMA Wireless Dome. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-Imagn Image When No. 21 Syracuse faces Washington State in the Holiday Bowl in San Diego on Friday, the matchup presents itself as stability versus chaos in many ways.
The Orange (9-3) entered the postseason with considerable momentum, winning their last three games, including a 42-38 win over Miami in the regular season finale. More importantly, Syracuse has a reliable head coach/quarterback combo. That’s because first-year coach Fran Brown has turned the program around thanks to standout signal caller Kyle McCord.
Meanwhile, the Cougars (8-4) are dealing with the opposite situation, with a three-game losing streak to end the regular season the least of their concerns.
Cougars coach Jake Dickert recently left for Wake Forest, and quarterback John Mateer announced he was transferring to Oklahoma. More than 25 Washington State players have reportedly entered the transfer portal, which has taken Syracuse from a slight favorite going into this game to a two-touchdown favorite at some sportsbooks.
For Syracuse, Brown is targeting double-digit wins in his first year in office. In the past 20 years, the program has won 10 games in a season only once.
“(We’re) just trying to get 10 wins,” said McCord, who finished 10th in Heisman Trophy voting after rushing for a national-high 4,326 yards and 29 touchdowns. “I think it will be a great achievement for us and the team. I’m looking forward to it.”
Not only did McCord decide to play in a bowl game, but he reportedly decided to challenge the NCAA for an extra year of eligibility.
“We’re not opting out of this, we love football,” Brown said.
Meanwhile, Washington State is struggling under acting head coach Pete Caligis and new No. 1 quarterback Jebi Eckhaus.
Eckhaus, a senior who has thrown just seven passes this season, will be making his first start for the Cougars. And he has huge shoes to fill, as Martier has thrown for 3,139 yards and 29 touchdowns and has a team-high 826 yards and 15 more scores.
“My message (to the players) was, ‘I know who we are. We’re going to play this game and I’m giving you everything I’ve got for the next nine days.’ 10 years later, it’s like, ‘Wow, that was a really special time. I didn’t even realize it,’ Kaligis said. ‘I love them so much. I hope they have everything. I hope they have everything in the next eight days.”
Washington State has lost its last three bowl appearances and hasn’t won a postseason contest since the Alamo Bowl at the end of the 2018 season.
Lastly, the commonality between the two programs is that Syracuse is looking for its first bowl win since the end of the 2018 season. That’s because the Camping World Bowl victory has been followed by bowl losses the past two years.
“I think (a win in the Holiday Bowl) will put us on the right track to achieve our ultimate goal,” Brown said. “Winning a conference championship and a national championship has been the goal the whole time.”
–Field level media
