Syracuse Orange quarterback Kyle McCord delivered a standout performance Friday night against the Washington State Cougars in the Holiday Bowl. He led the Orange to a 52-35 victory and broke the longstanding ACC passing record held by current Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson.
McCord, 22, is now the ACC’s all-time passing leader and is eligible for the 2025 NFL Draft.
Kyle McCord Unlocks a Massive Achievement Before Leaving for the NFL
The Holiday Bowl between Syracuse and Washington State was quite special for the former Ohio State quarterback. On the first drive of the second quarter, McCord threw a perfect 50-yard dime to Darrell Gill Jr. and breached the 4,593-yard mark to etch his name in the ACC history books.
Kyle McCord has passed former Clemson QB Deshaun Watson to become the new ACC all-time passing yards leader for a single season 👏
(via @CFBONFOX)https://t.co/Q8UuOz9JQl pic.twitter.com/eu68cL8jKv
— On3 (@On3sports) December 28, 2024
Watson had been the record holder since 2016 when he threw for 4,593 yards in 15 games. It was untouched for the last eight years until McCord, who entered the game as the fifth player on the ACC’s season list with 4,326 yards, broke the record on Friday night.
With this win, the Orange have wrapped up the season 10-3 and a campaign to remember for first-year head coach Fran Brown. McCord threw for 453 yards and five touchdowns against the Cougars.
This season, he racked up 4,779 yards with 34 touchdowns in total.
“Just to be sitting here and have that record now is crazy to see how everything comes full circle,” McCord said following the game.
When McCord Spoke About His Future Plans
The Syracuse quarterback is eligible for the 2025 NFL Draft, but speculation surrounds his potential return to college. He did not redshirt during his first season at Ohio State but had appeared in five games—just one more than the permissible limit.
If the NCAA grants him a waiver, he could return for a fifth season in college.
MORE: Simulate the 2025 NFL Draft on the CFN Mock Draft Simulator
“I can’t confirm or deny. We’ll see how it all shakes out,” McCord said Friday.
If he declares for the draft, he is projected as a potential second-round pick. While the quarterback class for 2025 is already stacked, McCord’s consistency and relative lack of injuries make him an intriguing option.
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