In 2023, as Ohio State's starting quarterback, McCord had 3,170 passing yards, 24 touchdowns and 6 interceptions. He led the Buckeyes to an 11-1 record, falling to Michigan 30-24 in the final game of the regular season.

Marvin Harrison Jr. had jokes for his former teammate on Friday. After Syracuse quarterback Kyle McCord, formerly Ohio State's starting quarterback,

It helped that Syracuse returned one of the best hybrid tight end/receivers in the country in Oronde Gadsden II, who came back to the Orange in large part because of McCord. Trebor Pena also returned from a hamstring injury that limited him to one game last season, and Syracuse signed Zeed Haynes and Jackson Meeks from the transfer portal.