When No. 21 Syracuse faces Washington State within the Vacation Bowl on Friday in San Diego, the matchup presents itself, in some ways, as stability vs. chaos.
The Orange (9-3) have gained their final three video games, together with a 42-38 upset of Miami within the regular-season finale, to enter the postseason with appreciable momentum. Extra importantly, Syracuse has a head coach/quarterback combo that it could rely on, as first-year coach Fran Brown has turned across the program, thanks largely to standout signal-caller Kyle McCord.
In the meantime, the Cougars (8-4) are coping with the other scenario — and their three-game dropping streak to finish the common season is the least of their considerations.
Cougars coach Jake Dickert just lately bolted for Wake Forest, whereas quarterback John Mateer introduced that he’s transferring to Oklahoma. Greater than 25 Washington State gamers have reportedly entered the switch portal, which has turned Syracuse from a slight favourite on this recreation to a two-touchdown favourite at some sportsbooks.
As for Syracuse, Brown has his sights set on double-digit victories in his first yr on the helm. This system has solely gained 10 video games in a season as soon as during the last 20 years.
“(We’re) simply attempting to get to 10 wins,” mentioned McCord, who completed tenth within the Heisman Trophy balloting after throwing for a national-best 4,326 yards and 29 touchdowns. “I believe that may be an enormous accomplishment for us and the staff. I am excited for it.”
Not solely has McCord determined to play within the bowl recreation, however he’s reportedly difficult the NCAA for a further yr of eligibility.
“We do not choose out round right here. We love soccer,” Brown mentioned.
In the meantime, Washington State is scrambling beneath appearing head coach Pete Kaligis and new No. 1 quarterback Zevi Eckhaus.
A senior who has thrown solely seven passes this season, Eckhaus shall be making his first begin for the Cougars. And he has huge sneakers to fill, as Mateer threw for 3,139 yards and 29 touchdowns and ran for a team-high 826 yards and 15 extra scores.
“My message to (the gamers) was, ‘I do know who we’re. We’ll play this recreation, and I will offer you every little thing that I’ve within the subsequent 9 days, that while you look again in 10 years, you will go, ‘Wow, that was a really particular time and I did not even understand it,” Kaligis mentioned. “I simply love them a lot. I need them to have every little thing. I need them to have every little thing within the subsequent eight days.”
Washington State has misplaced its final three bowl appearances and has not gained a postseason contest for the reason that Alamo Bowl on the finish of the 2018 season.
Lastly, a commonality between the 2 packages, as Syracuse is also in search of its first bowl win for the reason that conclusion of the 2018 season, as that victory within the Tenting World Bowl has been adopted by bowl losses in every of the final two years.
“I believe (a win within the Vacation Bowl) would put us heading in the right direction (in future years) to have the ability to attain our final purpose,” Brown mentioned, “which is to get to the school playoffs, which is to win the convention championship after which win a nationwide championship. That was the purpose your entire time.”
–Subject Stage Media
