This weekend, it’s Miami vs. Syracuse, not just Cam Ward vs. Kyle McCord.
That being said, there isn’t a better quarterback duel anywhere this week. McCord, in his first season at Syracuse, leads the nation in passing yards, attempts, completions, and 300-yard games. Ward, in his first season at Miami, leads the country in touchdown passes, ranks second in passing yards, and is third in all-time passing yards at the NCAA level.
They will face each other on Saturday, with No. 8 Miami (10-1, 6-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) aiming for a spot in the ACC title game and Syracuse (8-3, 4-3) looking for a big win in their home finale this season.
“I’m excited about it. I think two of the best quarterbacks in the country are about to go out and compete,” said Syracuse coach Fran Brown. “So, us having an opportunity to go against Miami when Syracuse has a really good quarterback, Miami has a really good quarterback, it’s a lot of things that match up the same. It’s pretty cool when you’re watching this game.”
Their numbers this season are quite similar. McCord has 10 games with 300 or more yards, while Ward has 9. Ward has three games with 400 or more yards, while McCord has one. Ward has 10 games with two or more touchdown passes, while McCord has nine. Ward has thrown for four or more touchdowns in a game four times, and McCord has done so three times.
Looking at the three common opponents they’ve played — Virginia Tech, Cal, and Georgia Tech — McCord has gone 85 for 127, throwing for 984 yards and seven touchdowns, while Ward is 84 for 130, with 1,128 yards and nine touchdowns.
When you add it up, McCord has 3,946 yards, while Ward has 3,774. Ward has 34 touchdown passes, while McCord has 26. Both quarterbacks are now their school’s single-season leader in passing yards and will finish this season with multiple entries in the Syracuse and Miami record books.
“I don’t have time to watch other quarterbacks,” Ward, Miami’s Heisman Trophy hopeful, said on Tuesday. “I watched a couple of his (games) because we’ve played similar teams, but I’m not taking time out of my day to watch him right now. He’s doing good, though. He’s top five in the country. He’s balling right now, for sure.”
Both quarterbacks were key additions from the transfer portal. McCord was at Ohio State last season. “I should send Ryan Day a bottle of champagne for allowing us to get him,” Brown joked earlier this season, referring to the Ohio State coach. Ward was at Washington State last year.
“To play meaningful football this late in the season, it means a lot,” McCord said in an interview on Syracuse’s athletic department website. “And so, to have a good opponent coming in, I know there’s going to be a good crowd, the Dome’s going to be rocking. To play on that stage, on national TV, that’s exactly what you work for all season long.”
Both quarterbacks lead high-powered offenses. Miami leads the nation in yards per game (541.5), points per game (44.7), and yards per play (7.61). Syracuse is averaging 31.7 points per game, its second-best rate in the last 26 seasons.
“I think this is a game that everyone wants to see,” Brown said. “Credit to both teams. Both quarterbacks have led their teams and had them just being able to play ball and put ’em in this situation. So, it’s a good deal to be a part of this.”
Miami hasn’t played in Syracuse’s domed stadium since 2002. The Hurricanes first played there in 1992, when Mario Cristobal — now the coach at Miami — was a starting lineman for a team ranked No. 1 in the country.
Miami won that game against then-No. 8 Syracuse to keep their title hopes alive. These Hurricanes have the same goal this Saturday, as their title hopes are still on the line. And that’s far more important than just a quarterback matchup.
“This is Miami against Syracuse,” Cristobal said. “The biggest game of the year.”
