Eric Boggs 
Stanford was a menace defensively for Syracuse quarterback Kyle McCord.
Stanford earned its first ACC win in dramatic fashion, traveling nearly 3,000 miles to upset Syracuse 26-24 on Friday night. As near double-digit underdogs, the Cardinal pulled off the biggest win of the Troy Taylor era, thanks to a last-second field goal by Emmet Kenney that sealed the victory.
The game got off to a thrilling start for Stanford. Star wide receiver Elic Ayomanor made a spectacular one-handed catch to give the Cardinal a 7-0 lead early. Syracuse, usually known for its explosive offense, struggled mightily in the first half, punting on their first three drives and falling behind 10-0.
The Orange finally found some life late in the second quarter when quarterback Kyle McCord connected with Umari Hatcher for a 67-yard touchdown after Stanford cornerback Zahran Manley slipped, closing the gap to 13-10 at halftime.
Stanford’s defense came up big in the third quarter when safety Mitch Leigber intercepted McCord and returned it 71 yards for a touchdown, extending the lead to 20-10. But McCord wasn’t done. He ran in a 19-yard touchdown to cut the lead to 20-17, setting up a tense fourth quarter.
With just over three minutes left, McCord hit Jackson Meeks for a touchdown to give Syracuse a 24-23 lead, firing up the home crowd. However, Stanford’s Ashton Daniels remained calm under pressure. On a crucial 4th-and-9, Daniels delivered a perfect 27-yard pass to Ayomanor, keeping the drive alive.
That clutch play set the stage for Kenney’s game-winning 39-yard field goal as time expired, giving Stanford the stunning 26-24 victory. The Cardinal’s win not only marked their first-ever ACC victory but also showed the potential of Taylor’s team to make noise in the conference this season.
Ayomanor finished the game with seven catches for 87 yards and a touchdown, while Stanford’s freshman running backs combined for over 120 yards on the ground. Meanwhile, Syracuse was left to reflect on missed opportunities and costly mistakes, including two critical interceptions thrown by McCord.
Syracuse head coach Fran Brown summed it up after the game: “They out-physicaled us. We gotta be more physical.”
Stanford’s cross-country trip ended in triumph, and with the ACC looking wide open, this win could be the start of something big for the Cardinal.
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