Nobody expected this. Honestly, if you told a Syracuse fan back in August that the Orange would end up with 10 wins and an ACC passing record, they’d have probably asked what you were drinking. But that’s exactly what went down.
The Syracuse football 2024 schedule wasn’t just a list of dates; it was a total reinvention of what football looks like in Central New York. Fran Brown didn’t just show up; he brought a whole new "D.A.R.T." culture—Detailed, Accountable, Relentless, Tough—and a quarterback who looked like he had a serious point to prove.
The Kyle McCord Effect
Let's talk about the elephant in the room. Kyle McCord. When he transferred from Ohio State, people were skeptical. Was he a "system QB"? Could he survive without five-star receivers at every position?
He didn't just survive. He thrived.
McCord finished the season with 4,779 passing yards. That isn't just a school record; it’s an ACC single-season record. He threw for 34 touchdowns and basically turned the JMA Wireless Dome into a literal air-raid siren. Every Saturday felt like a track meet.
Breaking Down the 2024 Results
The season started with a bang and ended with a trophy. Syracuse went 10-3 overall, finishing 5-3 in the ACC. If you missed the middle of the season, you missed some of the weirdest, most stressful football games in recent memory.
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The Hot Start
Syracuse opened against Ohio with a 38-22 win. It was the first glimpse of the McCord-to-everyone offense. Then came Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets were ranked #23 at the time, and Syracuse took them down 31-28. Suddenly, the hype was real.
But then, the Stanford game happened.
Losing 26-24 at home to Stanford was a gut punch. It was one of those "only at Syracuse" moments where the momentum just... vanished. People started wondering if the Fran Brown era was already hitting a wall.
The Mid-Season Rollercoaster
The Orange bounced back by beating Holy Cross 42-14, but the real test was a Friday night trip to Las Vegas. Playing #25 UNLV at Allegiant Stadium felt like a trap. It was high-scoring, chaotic, and went into overtime. Syracuse pulled it out 44-41. LeQuint Allen was a monster that night, scoring four touchdowns, including the game-winner.
The next few weeks were a blur:
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- at NC State: A gritty 24-17 win.
- at #19 Pitt: Absolute disaster. McCord threw five interceptions. Syracuse lost 41-13. It felt like the season was unraveling.
- Virginia Tech: A 38-31 overtime thriller at home. The Dome was loud.
The "Miami Miracle" and San Diego
The regular season finale against #8 Miami is the game people will be talking about for a decade. Syracuse fell behind 21-0 early. It looked like a blowout. Then the Orange started chipping away. They stormed back to win 42-38, sending the fans into a frenzy and securing a spot in the Holiday Bowl.
In San Diego, they faced Washington State. It wasn't even close. McCord threw for 453 yards and 5 touchdowns. Syracuse walked away with a 52-35 win and their first 10-win season since 2018.
The Stars You Might’ve Missed
Everyone talks about McCord, but the Syracuse football 2024 schedule was conquered because of depth. Syracuse was the only team in the entire country to have four different players with 60 or more catches.
Trebor Pena was everywhere. Jackson Meeks was a deep threat. Oronde Gadsden II proved he's still one of the best tight ends in the nation. And then there’s LeQuint Allen.
LeQuint became the first running back in Syracuse history to have 1,000 rushing yards and 500 receiving yards in the same season. He was basically the Swiss Army knife of the ACC. When the passing game got shaky, Allen just put the team on his back.
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Why This Season Actually Mattered
For years, Syracuse has been "the team that almost wins." They’d start 4-0 and finish 6-7. Not this time. Fran Brown proved he could recruit—landing the highest-rated class in program history—and he proved he could coach in big moments.
Sure, the defense was kinda leaky. They were ranked 96th in points allowed per game, which is... not great. They struggled to stop the run against Boston College and got carved up at times. But when you’re scoring 34 points a game, you have a lot of room for error.
The most important thing? Syracuse is relevant again.
What to Do Now
If you’re a fan looking back or a bettor looking forward, here is what you need to keep in mind:
- Watch the Replays: If you haven't seen the Miami comeback or the UNLV overtime win, go find them. They define the "never quit" attitude Brown has installed.
- Follow the Portal: The 2024 success was built on transfers like McCord and Fadil Diggs. Expect Syracuse to be a major player in the portal again this off-season.
- Check the 2025 Recruiting Class: Fran Brown is a recruiter first. The talent coming into Central New York right now is unlike anything we've seen since the Paul Pasqualoni era.
The 2024 season was a wild ride that nobody saw coming. It wasn't perfect, but it was exactly what the program needed to move out of the basement and into the national conversation.