The Orange win sets up an upset in the ACC title game

SYRACUSE — As Orange fans stormed the JMA Wireless Dome field immediately following Syracuse’s 42-38 upset over No. 6 Miami in the junior regular-season finale on Saturday Devin Grant jumped into the stands with his family.

Grant may have had the biggest play of Syracuse’s come-from-behind win. He returned a fumble which he forced 56 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter. “Big Play Dev” gave Syracuse (9-3, 4-3 in Atlantic Coast Conference play) its first lead. The Orange then traded fourth-quarter scores with Miami (10-2, 6-2) before rallying from a 21-0 hole in the first half. It was the greatest comeback in program history.

As a first-year head coach Fran Brown As he marched across the field with his son and celebrated Syracuse’s third win over a ranked opponent, Grant enjoyed the moment with many of his family members. Among them were his mother, father, grandmother and aunt, who watched as Grant helped Syracuse defeat the Heisman hopeful Cam WardThe Miami Hurricanes.

“I have a great support system and I have to give that credit. … They’re there for the highs. They are there for the depths. “I wanted to celebrate this big moment with them,” said Grant, a junior from Elmont, Long Island.

Grant’s touchdown was even more impressive about an hour later when Brown revealed that “Big Play Dev” had been playing on a torn MCL for about four weeks. Brown praised Grant’s work ethic and his role in helping Syracuse defeat the season’s third-ranked team, adding Miami to the list that also includes No. 23 Georgia Tech and No. 25 UNLV.

“He’s just a different kid. He works extremely hard. I train him extremely hard. … This kid is mentally and physically tough,” Brown said.

What it means

Syracuse’s win caused an upset in the ACC Championship game. A win in Miami would have secured a spot for the Hurricanes. Instead, No. 9 SMU (11-1, 8-0) will play No. 12 Clemson (9-3, 7-1) at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Saturday, December 7, at 8 p.m ).

Syracuse will now await its fate in the bowl game. First, the College Football Playoff committee must announce its 12-team tournament on Sunday, Dec. 8. Miami coach Mario Cristobal’s Hurricanes hope to stay in the top 12 and compete for a national championship.

“I hope we see these guys in the playoffs because they are a great team,” Brown said.

Game play

Grant recovered his own forced fumble. Ward found Xavier Restrepo near the line of scrimmage, who advanced the pass four yards down the field. Grant released the ball with a “pop” from his shoulder pads. Before Restrepo was on the ground, the football flew into Grant’s hands.

Ward was the only Miami player to stop the scoop-and-score touchdown. Listed at 6-foot-4 and 199 pounds, Grant ran through Ward’s tight tackle attempt inside the 5 and fell into the end zone for Syracuse’s first lead of the game, 35-28, with 1:47 left in the third.

“‘Thank you so much for supporting me. Thank you for believing in me… because without all of you, I don’t know if I would have the same drive that I do,'” Grant said as he celebrated the victory with his family in the stands. “Some days it’s like, ‘Oh man,’ but I go back to them and I’m like, ‘I still have them. I still have my brothers too.’ It’s just a happy moment.”

Miami and Syracuse exchanged three points in the fourth game. Damien Martinez tied the game early with a 2-yard run to the 35th. LeQuint Allen – who rushed for 85 yards on 22 carries – scored his second touchdown shortly afterwards and took the lead back 42:35.

Ward managed a five-minute drive inside the Syracuse 10. After the Hurricanes were forced back by a personal foul penalty, Miami used a 27-yard field goal from Andres Borregales to get within 42-38 of the Orange with 3:42 left. Cristobal was criticized for putting Ward on the field on fourth down with only two timeouts remaining for his defense.

“We use analytics. With four minutes left, it was outside the 10-yard line. Get the points. Stop,” Cristobal said in the Miami Herald.

Allen and his offensive line went all out on Syracuse’s ensuing drive. Of the 40,846 spectators in the stands during the contest, a sea of Syracuse fans filled the football field.

Play balls

Kyle McCord, Syracuse

The senior quarterback, who transferred from Ohio State, broke two passing records on Saturday. McCord now owns Syracuse records for passing touchdowns (29) and yards (4,326) in a single season. Both marks were set by Ryan Nassib in 2012. On Saturday, McCord completed 26 of 36 passes for 380 yards and three touchdowns. McCord leads the FBS in passing.

Jackson Meeks, Syracuse

The senior receiver recorded seven receptions for 110 yards and two touchdowns. Both of Meeks’ scores were 9-yard receptions. Junior redshirt Trebor Pena caught six passes for 128 yards and a touchdown. Pena nearly tied the game at 7, but a flag negated the touchdown. Rochester’s Justus Ross-Simmons, an East High graduate and Colorado State transfer who scored two touchdowns in a win over Virginia Tech on Nov. 2, caught a 23-yard pass against Miami.

Cam Ward, Miami

The redshirt senior appeared to be part of the projected No. 3 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Ward completed 25 of 36 passes for 349 yards and two touchdowns and nearly created the game-winning drive in the final moments. Ward’s 36 touchdown passes are the most in America. His favorite receiver on Saturday was Xavier Restrepowho had nine receptions for 148 yards and a touchdown. Jacob George had six receptions for 121 yards and Elijah Arroyo caught Ward’s other touchdown. Mark Fletcher Jr. Rushed for two touchdowns Damien Martinez rushed for a score and a team-high 84 rushing yards.

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