PITTSBURGH – Syracuse football’s offense was on the field with 1:23 left before halftime and trailed 24-0 to Pittsburgh.

It wanted to run one of its tried-and-true two-minute drills to gain some much-needed momentum at the end of a miserable first two quarters.

Instead, quarterback Kyle McCord was pressured on the first snap and, in a panic, tried to throw a quick pass to running back LeQuint Allen.

But the ball bounced from Allen’s hands into those of Panthers linebacker Braylan Lovelace. He made it 33 meters to the house.

It was the third pick-6 of the first half and it was only the sixth time this century that an FBS team returned three interceptions for points in a single game.

Pitt’s three pick-sixes were the most in a half since 2005.

Syracuse’s offense was unrecognizable in the first quarter and still struggled tremendously into the second quarter, resulting in a 31-0 deficit entering the break that ended in a 41-13 loss in the second half at Acrisure Stadium against No. 19 Pittsburgh ended.

The Panthers have completely stunned an SU offense that has totaled over 400 yards in all but two games this year, and a quarterback who has himself thrown for 300 yards in every game – including this one, when he had 321 passing yards completed.

The spread was just six points early in the game, favoring Pitt. It was a matchup that drew national attention and quickly upset Syracuse.

The loss likely wipes out any run Syracuse could have made toward an ACC Championship berth in a highly competitive year for the conference.

McCord has nearly doubled his interceptions this season. He had played six to six games; On Thursday night, he threw five, tied for the most hits against a Syracuse QB in a game. Three of the interceptions were tipped balls.

The Orange had goosebumps on national television until well past the midpoint of the third quarter, when McCord ran for a 1-yard touchdown, capping an 18-play drive that ate up nine minutes of game time.

SU’s two-point conversion attempt was unsuccessful and the score was 31-6 with 5:22 left in the third quarter.

On the next drive, McCord threw his fifth interception of the game. The Pitt offense put seven more points on the board three plays later.

The Orange added another touchdown midway through the fourth quarter with a two-yard rush from tight end Dan Villari, but the game already appeared to be over.

Syracuse’s defense played well in the limited time on the field. It forced linebacker Marlowe Wax into three punts, returning to action eight weeks after a lower-body injury knocked him out of the game in SU’s season opener.

Linebacker Justin Barron led the Orange with seven tackles, followed closely by safety Duce Chestnut, who made six tackles, and linebacker Derek McDonald, who had five tackles.

Wax made the Orange’s only sack on Pitt quarterback Eli Holstein, a 6-yard loss. He also had two tackles upon his return to the field.

The defense’s best play of the game, a pick by true freshman Marcellus Barnes Jr., was wiped off the board by a rough pass call against Wax. The game broadcast showed SU coach Fran Brown was upset about the call.

However, nothing was enough to ease the bleeding on the other side of the ball, especially in the rough first half.

McCord completed 16 of 34 passes for 134 yards, zero touchdowns and four interceptions in the first half.

He was sacked twice as his offense – four of whom had been captains during the game – struggled against Pitt’s tendency to occupy the penalty box. One of the sacks against McCord was for a 15-yard loss that put Syracuse out of field goal range on its best drive of the night.

The disparity between McCord and his receivers felt immense most of the time, a stark contrast to other games this season where he routinely connected with them in tight coverages.

In his one first-half interception that wasn’t returned for a touchdown, McCord’s pass bounced off the hands of tight end Oronde Gadsden II, his intended receiver, and then Meeks before falling into his outstretched arms just before the strike by linebacker Brandon George fell ground.

Gadsden left the game in the second quarter and did not return. During the second half he stood on the sidelines in street clothes.

Peña, whose availability was in doubt this week, led SU in limited receiving play. He made five catches for 51 yards. Meeks had five for 53 yards.

True freshman Emanuel Ross led the way with five catches for 78 yards.

Syracuse looks to make up for the loss next week with a return to the JMA Wireless Dome to host Virginia Tech. The game time is expected to be announced on Sunday after the ACC pushed it back to six days on Monday.

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