SAN DIEGO — A touching moment was shared on Thursday as Syracuse’s head coach Fran Brown and Washington State’s acting coach Pete Kaligis embraced following their Holiday Bowl press conference. Kaligis will certainly benefit from the support, especially given how much his team needs encouragement at this challenging time.
Ranked No. 22, Syracuse (9-3, No. 21 CFP), led by the national passing leader Kyle McCord, heads into the Holiday Bowl as a 17-point favorite against the struggling Cougars (8-4), who have seen a downward spiral in their season since mid-November. After a victorious matchup against future Pac-12 rival San Diego State on October 26, where the Cougars won 29-26, the team was riding high at 7-1 and was on the cusp of entering the AP Top 25.
However, the Cougars have faced significant challenges as they prepare to return to Snapdragon Stadium. Coach Jake Dickert has moved on to Wake Forest, quarterback John Mateer has transferred to Oklahoma, and running back Wayshawn Parker opted for Utah. Overall, numerous coaches, including offensive and defensive coordinators, have left their positions, leading to over 20 players entering the transfer portal. The team’s last three outings ended in defeats, illustrating how the fast-paced transformation in college football can disrupt a program.
Kaligis acknowledged the circumstances, stating, “Going into the ins-and-outs of the game tomorrow doesn’t matter. We are who we are, we have what we have. I know that’s for both of us.” Interestingly, Kaligis noted that players who entered the portal after Dickert’s departure are eligible to play in Friday’s game. “I know we came here with 98 guys. That’s who we’re going to show up on the field with,” he added.
In this challenging landscape, Kaligis emphasized the importance of fostering strong relationships between players and coaches. He remarked on the challenges that arise when staff leave and players explore other opportunities, as those connections are often a significant factor in player decisions. “When that position coach isn’t guaranteed he’s going to be there, that’s who that young man trusts,” he elaborated.
Reflecting on his coaching career, he noted that despite spending 13 years at Wyoming and witnessing three graduating classes, he feels a similar challenge at Washington State, where he has been the fourth coach overseeing the defensive line.
After a strong start to the season, which included an impressive victory over Utah State on November 9, the Cougars faced a tough series of losses against Oregon State, New Mexico, and Wyoming. These setbacks highlight the unpredictable nature of college football and the difficulty in maintaining consistency amid so many changes.
On the other hand, McCord’s performance has stood out during the season. Having transferred from Ohio State, he has shattered Syracuse’s passing records with 4,326 yards, 29 touchdowns, and 367 completions. He is also on track to challenge Deshaun Watson’s ACC single-season record of 4,593 yards set in 2016.
Syracuse is aiming for a victory that would secure 10 wins for the first time since 2018 and only the third time since 2000. Coach Brown, if successful, would become just the second Syracuse coach since World War II to achieve 10 wins in their inaugural season, following in the footsteps of Paul Pasqualoni in 1991.
In their final regular season matchup, the Orange overcame a daunting 21-0 deficit to defeat then-No. 6 Miami with a score of 42-38, eliminating the Hurricanes from ACC title contention and ruining their College Football Playoff aspirations. McCord posted an impressive 380 yards passing and three touchdown throws in that game.
“We want to go out and have a good game,” said Brown. “We have an opportunity of winning 10 games, which means you’re starting to become a successful program, right? Our players haven’t had a chance of winning a bowl game. So there’s a lot of things that are on the line for us to really be able to build our program and move forward.”
Historically, the matchup marks the second meeting between the teams, with Syracuse claiming victory in the previous encounter, winning 52-25 back in 1979.
