As far as quarterback nightmares go, Syracuse’s Kyle McCord had a doozy in the first half Thursday at Pittsburgh.
The Ohio State transfer, who entered the weekend ranked No. 2 among FBS quarterbacks in passing yards per game, threw four interceptions in the first two quarters, including three that were returned for touchdowns by the unbeaten Panthers.
It marked the first time since 2005 that an FBS team returned three interceptions for scores in a half, according to TruMedia, and the first time since 2015 that a quarterback threw three pick sixes in a game. Kyle Allen last did it for Texas A&M in a loss to Alabama.
Kyle McCord is first player to throw 3 pick-6s in a game since Kyle Allen did it for Texas A&M vs Alabama in 2015. Minkah Fitzpatrick had 2 of them and Eddie Jackson the other
— Josh Dubow (@JoshDubowAP) October 25, 2024
Rasheem Biles returned the first interception of the game 35 yards for a touchdown. The second interception was hauled in by Javon McIntyre off a deflection but was not returned for a score. The third pick was returned 59 yards for a TD by Kyle Louis. The next interception was taken back 33 yards for a score by Braylan Lovelace on the final pass McCord attempted in the first half.
McCord threw a fifth interception, on a deflection, late in the third quarter with the Orange trailing 31-6.
Central Michigan’s Joe Labas is the only other FBS quarterback to throw at least five interceptions in a game this season. He did it in Week 2 against FIU.
McCord entered Thursday’s game ranked 34th nationally in passing efficiency and was completing 65.6 percent of his attempts with 19 touchdowns and only six interceptions.
(Photo: Barry Reeger / Imagn Images)
