Nobody saw it coming. Honestly, when the Miami Hurricanes jumped out to a 21-0 lead early in the second quarter at the JMA Wireless Dome, most fans probably started looking for something else to watch. It felt like another blowout. Another step toward an ACC title appearance for Mario Cristobal’s squad. But college football is weird, and the Miami vs Syracuse football 2024 matchup turned into an absolute fever dream that eventually ended in a 42-38 stunner for the Orange.
It wasn't just a loss for the U. It was a season-altering collapse.
By the time the final whistle blew on November 30, 2024, Syracuse hadn't just beaten a top-10 team; they had completed the largest comeback in their program's history. We’re talking about a 21-point hole against one of the most explosive offenses in the country. If you’re a Miami fan, this game is the one that’s going to haunt your sleep for a long, long time.
How the 21-0 Lead Evaporated
Miami looked like world-beaters for the first twenty minutes. Cam Ward was doing Cam Ward things, finding Xavier Restrepo and Elijah Arroyo with ease. Mark Fletcher Jr. was punching it in. It was 21-0 and the Hurricanes were outgaining the Orange 189 yards to 42 in the first quarter alone.
Then, the momentum shifted. It didn't just tip; it fell off a cliff.
Syracuse finally woke up. Kyle McCord—who, let’s be real, had a lot to prove after his departure from Ohio State—started dicing up the Miami secondary. A 7-play, 75-yard drive ended with a LeQuint Allen touchdown. Then a 15-play marathon drive found Jackson Meeks in the end zone. Suddenly, at halftime, it was 21-14. The "blowout" was gone.
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The Play That Broke Miami
The third quarter was basically a shootout, but one play stands above the rest as the definitive "what just happened?" moment. The game was knotted at 28-28. Miami was driving. They had the ball near midfield, and Xavier Restrepo—the most reliable hands on the roster—caught a pass.
Then, Devin Grant happened.
Grant didn't just make the tackle; he punched the ball out, scooped it up, and sprinted 56 yards for a touchdown. The Dome went absolutely nuclear. That scoop-and-score gave Syracuse their first lead of the game at 35-28 and fundamentally broke the Hurricanes' rhythm. Even when Miami tied it back up at 35, you could feel the energy had left the visiting sideline.
By the Numbers: McCord vs Ward
The box score for Miami vs Syracuse football 2024 reads like a video game. These two quarterbacks combined for over 700 yards of passing.
- Kyle McCord (Syracuse): 26/36, 380 yards, 3 TDs. He became the first Syracuse QB to hit 4,000 yards in a single season during this game.
- Cam Ward (Miami): 25/36, 349 yards, 2 TDs. Ward tied the Division I record for career touchdown passes (155) during the contest, matching Case Keenum.
It’s wild to think that Ward played a statistically "good" game and still walked away with a loss that likely cost him a Heisman trophy and a guaranteed playoff spot.
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The Field Goal Decision Heard 'Round Coral Gables
We have to talk about the 4th quarter. It's the part that has Miami fans screaming into their pillows. Trailing 42-35 with about four minutes left, Miami faced a 4th-and-goal from the 10-yard line.
Instead of going for the touchdown to tie, Mario Cristobal opted for a 27-yard Andy Borregales field goal.
Cristobal later explained the move by citing "analytics," saying they wanted the points and trusted the defense to get a stop. The problem? The defense hadn't stopped Syracuse all half. Syracuse took the ball back with 3:42 on the clock and never gave it back. LeQuint Allen and Trebor Pena ground out first down after first down, and the Hurricanes watched their ACC title hopes expire from the sidelines.
Why This Game Matters for the Future
This wasn't just a regular-season finale. It was a shifting of the guard for Syracuse under first-year coach Fran Brown. Beating a No. 6 ranked Miami team proved that his "D.A.R.T." (Detailed, Accountable, Relentless, Tough) philosophy wasn't just locker room talk.
For Miami, it was a brutal reminder of the "old Miami" tendencies—the self-inflicted wounds, the penalties (90 yards worth), and the inability to close out games against scrappy underdogs. They finished the regular season 10-2, but those two losses (Georgia Tech and Syracuse) were both games they probably should have won on paper.
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Key Takeaways for Fans
If you're looking back at the Miami vs Syracuse football 2024 tape to understand what went wrong or right, keep these points in mind:
- Red Zone Efficiency: Miami's inability to turn late-game trips into six points was the literal difference between winning and losing.
- Defensive Adjustments: Syracuse started attacking the perimeter once they realized Miami's pass rush was fading. McCord’s "quick game" neutralized the Hurricanes' front.
- The "Cuse" Resilience: This team didn't quit at 21-0. That kind of culture is hard to build, but Fran Brown seems to have it locked in.
The fallout of this game was massive. It sent Clemson to the ACC Championship instead of Miami. It forced the Hurricanes to sweat out a 12-team playoff bid instead of cruising in as a top-4 seed. Basically, the Orange played spoiler in the most spectacular way possible.
If you're following these teams into next season, watch the transfer portal. Miami will be looking for defensive back depth to prevent another 380-yard aerial assault, while Syracuse will be looking to capitalize on the massive recruiting momentum this win generated.
Keep an eye on the 2025 schedules; this is officially a rivalry again.