Syracuse Storms Back From 15 Down to Stun NC State 34-31 in Raleigh on Saturday

Syracuse erased a 15-point deficit in the final five and a half minutes to stun NC State 34-31 at Carter-Finley Stadium on Saturday, a comeback capped by Justus Ross-Simmons' 11-yard touchdown catch with 48 seconds left and sealed by Chris D'Appolonia's interception on the Wolfpack's final drive. The Orange trailed 28-13 late in the third quarter and 31-20 with seven minutes to play before winning their biggest road comeback in 14 years.

Key Points

• Syracuse beat NC State 34-31 on Saturday, November 14, 2026, at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, wiping out a 15-point deficit in the final 5.5 minutes.
• Tunmise Adeleye returned an interception 18 yards for a touchdown to make it 31-26, then Steve Angeli hit Justus Ross-Simmons for an 11-yard touchdown with 48 seconds left, and Ross-Simmons caught the two-point conversion for 34-31.
• Chris D'Appolonia intercepted NC State quarterback CJ Bailey on the Wolfpack's final drive to seal the win.
• Calvin Russell III caught 17 passes for 137 yards, tying the Syracuse single-game record, while Angeli finished 27-of-42 for 272 yards and two touchdowns.
• Syracuse improved to 5-5 overall and 3-5 in the ACC, while NC State fell to 4-6 and 2-5 in conference play.

What Happened

NC State won the toss and deferred, and Syracuse marched 69 yards in 13 plays for Tripp Woody's 31-yard field goal and a 3-0 lead. The Wolfpack took the lead late in the second quarter on a 14-play, 81-yard drive, Bailey converting fourth-and-9 with a 26-yard pass to Keenan Jackson before scoring on a 9-yard run. Woody's 35-yard field goal made it 7-6 at half-time.

The third quarter belonged to the Wolfpack. Duke Scott broke a 62-yard run to open the second half, and Bailey followed with a 12-yard touchdown pass to Chance Robinson. Three plays later, Bailey hit Davion Dozier for 69 yards and Davion Gause finished with a 2-yard run to make it 21-6. Hill's 13-yard touchdown run pulled Syracuse back to 21-13, but Scott answered with a 32-yard touchdown run for a 28-13 lead.

Syracuse answered early in the fourth, needing just five plays to go 74 yards. Angeli connected with Umari Hatcher for 53 yards to the NC State 2, then found Russell for a 3-yard touchdown, making it 28-20. NC State responded with a nine-play, 71-yard drive that stalled at the Syracuse 4, and a 21-yard field goal made it 31-20 with seven minutes to play.

The Final Five Minutes

Syracuse's next drive stalled and Jimmy Gregg punted 45 yards to the NC State 23. Two plays later, Adeleye stepped in front of a Bailey pass and returned the interception 18 yards for a touchdown. Angeli was sacked on the two-point try, leaving it 31-26 with five minutes left. The Orange defence then forced a quick three-and-out, Adeleye stopping Scott for a 3-yard loss and Davien Kerr sacking Bailey on third-and-13.

Syracuse took over and drove 49 yards in nine plays. Angeli converted a fourth-and-3 with a 5-yard pass to Ross-Simmons, then hit Russell for 7 yards to reach the NC State 11. On the next snap, Angeli found Ross-Simmons for an 11-yard touchdown, and Ross-Simmons caught the two-point conversion in the corner of the end zone for 34-31 with 48 seconds left. NC State still had a chance: Bailey ran 27 yards into Syracuse territory and a penalty moved the ball to the Syracuse 30, but the Orange defence held, D'Appolonia picked off Bailey, and Syracuse took a knee to seal it.

Syracuse Stuns NC State: Russell Ties a School Record

Russell was the story of the afternoon even before the comeback. His 17 receptions tied the Syracuse single-game record set by Ervin Phillips on September 30, 2017, and they are the most by any player nationally since 2024. He finished with 137 yards, including the 7-yard catch that set up the winner.

Angeli finished 27-of-42 for 272 yards and two touchdowns, at his best when the game was on the line. Hatcher caught four passes for 81 yards and passed 1,000 yards on the season, the eighth player in programme history to do so. Hill led the Orange rushing attack with 60 yards and a touchdown. For NC State, Bailey completed 15 of 27 passes for 211 yards and a touchdown, and Scott ran for 127 yards on 14 carries with a touchdown. The Wolfpack had the game in hand twice and lost it in five and a half minutes.

Reactions

The result was one of the most dramatic finishes of the Week 11 schedule: Syracuse's largest road comeback in 14 years, and its first road comeback of 15 or more points since 2012. It underlined how thin the margin is in the ACC: NC State controlled the game through three quarters and still lost, while Syracuse turned a season that could have slipped away into one that still has everything to play for.

Why It Matters

The win matters most for what it keeps alive. At 5-5, Syracuse needs one more victory from its final two games to reach bowl eligibility, travelling to Boston College next Saturday before returning home for the finale against Notre Dame. A loss in Raleigh would have left the Orange needing to win both, including against a Notre Dame side that routed Boston College 41-7 on Saturday. Now one win in two is enough, and Syracuse's 3-5 conference record keeps it clear of the bottom of the league, while NC State's 2-5 mark leaves the Wolfpack fighting to stay out of it. Related coverage: LSU Stuns No. 14 Gonzaga 81-80 as Donovan Dent Hits Last-Second Three.

What Happens Next

Syracuse travels to play Boston College next Saturday in a noon kickoff on ACC Network. A win there would secure bowl eligibility with a game to spare, and the Orange then return home for the finale against Notre Dame. NC State, at 4-6, must regroup quickly: the Wolfpack have two games left to reach six wins, carrying the memory of a game they led by 15 in the third quarter and by 11 with seven minutes to play. Also read: No. 3 Alabama Beats Vanderbilt 21-6 as Keelon Russell Throws Three Touchdowns.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the final score of Syracuse vs NC State?
Syracuse beat NC State 34-31 on Saturday, November 14, 2026, in Raleigh, North Carolina.

How did Syracuse come back to win?
Syracuse trailed 28-13 late in the third quarter and 31-20 with seven minutes left. Adeleye's 18-yard interception return made it 31-26; Angeli then hit Ross-Simmons for an 11-yard touchdown with 48 seconds left, and Ross-Simmons caught the two-point conversion. D'Appolonia intercepted Bailey on the final drive.

Who starred for Syracuse?
Calvin Russell III caught 17 passes for 137 yards, tying the Syracuse single-game record. Steve Angeli threw for 272 yards and two touchdowns.

What does the win mean for Syracuse's bowl hopes?
Syracuse improved to 5-5 and needs one win from its final two games, at Boston College and at home against Notre Dame, to reach bowl eligibility.

What was NC State's record after the loss?
NC State fell to 4-6 overall and 2-5 in ACC play; Duke Scott ran for 127 yards and a touchdown in the defeat.