SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR) – The first regular season of the Fran Brown era ended with a bang Saturday as Syracuse defeated the No. 8 ranked Miami Hurricanes 42-38. Kyle McCord threw for 380 yards and three touchdowns in the win. The Orange rallied from a 21-0 deficit to earn the program’s first win against a top-10 opponent since 2017.

Early on, it looked like SU might be in trouble as the Canes scored on their first three possessions. Miami marched 75 yards on its first drive in 10 plays and took a 7-0 lead on a two-yard run by Mark Fletcher.

Syracuse had a 41-yard touchdown pass to Trebor Pena that was called back for an illegal formation penalty on its first drive. That drive would end with an incomplete pass on fourth-and-2.

The Hurricanes made it 14-0 with a 16-yard pass to Xavier Restrepo. After an SU punt, Cam Ward led another scoring drive when he hit Elijah Arroyo from three yards out. At the start of the second quarter, Miami was 21-0.

After that, the SU offense came alive. LeQuint Allen capped a seven-play, 75-yard drive with an eight-yard touchdown run.

After a Miami punt, Kyle McCord set a new SU record by throwing his 27th touchdown pass of the season. McCord hit Jackson Meeks from nine yards out to make it 21:14.

It took less than a minute for the Orange to tie the score in the third quarter. Kyle McCord hit Trebor Pena on back-to-back plays, a 50-yard completion and a 25-yard completion, to tie the score at 21.

After the teams traded touchdowns again, Devin Grant gave Syracuse its first lead of the game with a 56-yard scoop and a score. That gave the Orange a 35-28 lead toward the end of the third quarter.

Miami would tie the score early in the fourth quarter. After the drive was kept alive by a defensive holding call, Cam Ward found Xavier Restrepo for a 40-yard catch and a run to the two-yard line. Damien Martinez got it on the next play, increasing the score to 35 with 13:02 left.

SU would respond again with a 10-play scoring drive. LeQuint Allen capped the drive with a three-yard touchdown run (his 14th of the season) to make it 42-35 for the Orange with 9:16 left.

On its next drive, Miami took a critical penalty near the SU goal line. Jacolby George was assessed a penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct on first-and-goal. The Canes would settle for a short field goal to make the score 42-38 with 3:42 left. However, SU never gave the ball back and finished the game with a 42-38 win.

The loss to Miami means Clemson will face SMU in the ACC Championship game.

Syracuse improves to 9-3 this season and will wait to find out its bowl destination next Sunday.