Stanford earned the biggest win of the Troy Taylor era on Friday night. The Cardinal went on the road and stunned Syracuse, pulling off the outright win as near double-digit underdogs.
The Cardinal got off to a great start, highlighted by a spectacular one-handed catch by Elic Ayomanor to jump out to a 7-0 lead.
Despite looking like one of the more explosive offenses in college football, the Orange offense struggled mightily in the first. They punted on their three first drives, which allowed Stanford to go up 10-0.
With Stanford leading 13-3 late in the second, the defense gave up its first costly play after Zahran Manley slipped and fell, allowing for Umari Hatcher to take it 67 yards for the score.
Leading 13-10 at the half, Stanford got a massive play from the defense that led to points, as Mitch Leigber picked off Kyle McCord and took it 71 yards for the score. A score that the team badly needed after Ashton Daniels threw an ill-advised pick. That pick-six put Stanford up 20-10, and it looked like they were on their way to a massive road win.