Syracuse secured a 30-27 victory over No. 19 SMU on Saturday at the JMA Wireless Dome. A last-minute touchdown pass from Steve Angeli to Noah Meyers sealed the upset, keeping the Orange's bowl aspirations alive.
The 17-second strike to Noah Meyers
With only 3:36 remaining in the game and trailing 27-23, Syracuse launched an 11-play drive that redefined their season's trajectory. According to the report, quarterback Steve Angeli connected with tight end Noah Meyers for a 2-yard score with just 17 seconds left on the clock. Meyers, a transfer from Western Kentucky, secured his second career touchdown to provide the winning margin.
Steve Angeli, making his second consecutive start after recovering from a lower-body injury, finished the day with 200 yards and a touchdown on 21 of 34 passes . Angeli also contributed a 26-yard touchdown run in the first quarter, signaling a return to full health and providing the leadership Syracuse coach Fran Brown credited for the victory.
Six sacks and a damaged CFP bid for SMU
Despite a strong passing performance from quarterback Kevin Jennings, who threw for 351 yards and 29 completions, SMU's offensive line collapsed under pressure. As reported, the Syracuse defense sacked Jennings six times, a figure that SMU coach Rhett Lashlee noted was higher than any other game they have played all year. This defensive dominance helped the Orange neutralize one of the most potent offenses in the ACC.
The loss is a devastating blow to the Mustangs' standing in the national landscape. Now sitting at a 6-2 overall record and 4-2 in the ACC, SMU faces a steep climb to regain the favor of the College Football Playoff committee. A loss to an unranked Syracuse team that entered the game under .500 significantly weakens their case for a postseason berth and may result in them falling out of the AP Top 25.
A 4-4 record and the 2-0 turnover advantage
Syracuse's victory brings their record to 4-4, moving them closer to the threshold required for a bowl game invitation. The Orange defense played a pivotal role in this turnaround, winning the turnover battle 2-0 by forcing fumbles from SMU's Jalen Hale and Randy Pittman Jr. Individual efforts were led by Demetres Samuel Jr., who recorded 10 tackles, and Tunmise Adeleye, who contributed 1.5 sacks.
This win reflects a broader trend of resilience for the Orange, who have now secured two consecutive victories. The team has also shown improvement in discipline; once the most penalized team in the country, Syracuse was flagged only seven times for 50 yards durnig this contest.. This stabiliity, paired with a more forgiving upcoming schedule featruing teams like NC State and Boston College, suggests that the Orange are finding their identity late in the season.
Tripp Woody's perfect day vs.. SMU's 90 penalty yards
Special teams played a decisive role in the final score, particularly through the leg of Tripp Woody.. After a season plagued by five missed PATs, Woody returned to the starting role and delivered a flawless performance, going 3-for-3 on field goals and 3-for-3 on PATs. His consistency provided the necessary points to keep Syracuse within striking distance during the fourth quarter.
Conversely, SMU struggled with discipline and execution in critical moments. the Mustangs were penalized nine times for a total of 90 yards, including critical flags on special teams and offensive holds. A pivotal moment occurred 12 minutes into the fourth quarter when Steve Angeli was penalized for intentional grounding in the end zone,gifting SMU a safety and momentarily shifting the momentum in the Mustangs' favor.
The road to Clemson and the ranked-team drought
Syracuse now looks toward a home game against Clemson (2-2) with renewed confidence. However, some details regarding the magnitude of this win remain slightly opaque. While the report notes this is the first ranked upset for Syracuse since the 2024 season, it remains unclear how the team's internal metrics have shifted to allow for this sudden surge in performance against top-tier opponents.
Furthermore, it remains to be seen if SMU can recover from the psychological blow of this loss. With their shot at an ACC Championship Game appearance seriously compromised, the Mustangs must find a way to stabilize an offensive line that allowed six sacks in a single afternoon if they hope to salvage their season.
Comments 0