Video: Syracuse HC Jokes About Sending Champagne to Ryan Day for Kyle McCord Transfer | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats & Rumors

The new era of football at Syracuse began with a 1-0 victory thanks to Saturday’s 38-22 win over the Ohio Bobcats, but it was another team from the Buckeye State that was hot on the heels of head coach Fran Brown after the game.

“I should send Ryan Day a bottle of champagne for giving us the opportunity to get him,” he told reporters (4:26) when discussing quarterback Kyle McCord, who transferred from Ohio State to Syracuse this past offseason.

McCord played well in his debut for the Orange, going 27 of 39 for 354 yards, four touchdowns and one interception. He helped the ACC team overcome a slow start, with the Bobcats jumping out to a 6-0 lead in the first quarter and then largely closing things out with touchdown passes to LeQuint Allen and Trebor Pena in the third quarter.

Allen also ran for 98 yards on 15 attempts.

Syracuse made a number of changes this past offseason, but the most notable were the hiring of Brown as head coach and the addition of McCord at quarterback. Both are accustomed to playing on the biggest stages college football has to offer, as Brown coached on the Georgia staff and McCord played at Ohio State.

They will be tasked with positioning Syracuse as a contender for the ACC, as the program has gone just 24-37 over the last five seasons.

McCord played well statistically during his one season as Ohio State’s starter, completing 65.8 percent of his passes for 3,170 yards, 24 touchdowns and six interceptions. It helped to throw to the likes of Marvin Harrison Jr. and Co., but he made some impressive plays.

Unfortunately for the Buckeyes, they still fell short in their goals, in part due to his struggles in the Michigan game to end the regular season. He threw two interceptions, one of which came deep in Ohio State’s own territory to set up a touchdown and the other of which ended the final drive with a chance to win.

He ultimately transferred before the Cotton Bowl that followed.

Day and the Buckeyes went in a different direction this offseason, adding transfers Will Howard (Kansas State) and Julian Sayin (Alabama) to the quarterback room. They once again have high expectations and hope to compete for a Big Ten and national title.

Perhaps McCord and Syracuse can surprise them and join them as a College Football Playoff contender if the quarterback continues to play well.