BCSNN. — Syracuse spent most of Saturday afternoon chasing the game. By the final minute, the Orange were celebrating one of their most dramatic victories of the season.
Trailing by 15 points entering the fourth quarter, Syracuse scored 21 unanswered points, forced two late turnovers and rallied past NC State 34–31 at Carter-Finley Stadium to keep its postseason hopes alive.
The comeback pushed Syracuse to 5–5 overall and 3–5 in ACC play, while NC State dropped to 4–6 overall and 2–5 in conference action. It was a victory fueled by resilience, timely defense and a record-tying performance from wide receiver Calvin Russell III.
Russell was nearly unstoppable throughout the afternoon, catching 17 passes for 137 yards, tying the Syracuse single-game receptions record set by Ervin Phillips in 2017. His 17 catches were also the most by any FBS player since 2024. Fellow receiver Umari Hatcher added four receptions for 81 yards and surpassed the 1,000-yard receiving mark for the season, becoming just the eighth player in program history to reach the milestone.
Despite controlling possession early, Syracuse found itself trailing 7–6 at halftime after settling for field goals on two lengthy first-half drives. NC State then seized momentum at the start of the third quarter, turning a 7-6 game into a 21-6 advantage behind quarterback CJ Bailey, a 62-yard run from Duke Scott, and a series of explosive plays that appeared to put the Wolfpack in command.
The Orange refused to fold. Quarterback Steve Angeli orchestrated an 11-play, 75-yard drive late in the third quarter, setting up a 13-yard touchdown run by Tylik Hill. When Scott answered with a 32-yard touchdown run that gave NC State a 28–13 lead, Syracuse immediately responded. Angeli found Hatcher for a 53-yard gain, then connected with Russell for a 3-yard touchdown to cut the margin to 28–20 early in the fourth.
NC State appeared to regain breathing room when it drove to the Syracuse 4-yard line and settled for a field goal, extending the lead to 31–20 with seven minutes remaining. Instead, that possession became the last points the Wolfpack would score.
Two plays after Syracuse punted the ball back, defensive lineman Tunmise Adeleye intercepted Bailey and returned the turnover 18 yards for a touchdown, suddenly trimming the deficit to five points. The Orange defense followed with a three-and-out, highlighted by Adeleye's tackle for loss and a sack from Davien Kerr, setting the stage for one final offensive push.
With the game on the line, Angeli delivered. The Syracuse quarterback converted a fourth-and-three pass to Justus Ross-Simmons, then found Russell again to move the ball inside the red zone. Moments later, Angeli hit Ross-Simmons for an 11-yard touchdown, and the receiver secured the two-point conversion to give Syracuse its first lead since the opening quarter, 34–31, with 48 seconds remaining.
NC State still had one final opportunity. Bailey used his legs to move the Wolfpack into Syracuse territory, but the Orange defense delivered again. As the Wolfpack attempted a desperation drive into field-goal range, Chris D'Appolonia intercepted Bailey near the Syracuse 30-yard line, allowing the Orange offense to kneel out the clock and complete the comeback.
Angeli finished 27-of-42 for 272 yards and two touchdowns, while Hill paced the ground game with 60 yards and a score. Bailey threw for 211 yards and a touchdown for NC State, while Scott rushed for 127 yards and two scores.
The victory gives Syracuse a chance to reach bowl eligibility entering the final two games of the regular season. The Orange continue their road swing next week at Boston College before returning home to close the regular season against Notre Dame.
