Ever seen a team kick their QB to the curb only to watch him ball out somewhere else? That’s Kyle McCord‘s story—a former Buckeyes’ ‘scapegoat’ turned redemption king. Blamed for Ohio State’s soul-crushing 30-24 loss to Jim Harbaugh’s Michigan last November, McCord was sent packing. The man didn’t moan or complain but took his talents and bags to New York. Fast forward to Week 14, and he’s Syracuse’s hero after a stunning 42-38 upset over Mario Cristobal’s Miami Hurricanes. Meanwhile, Ohio State’s still stuck in Michigan obsession. Talk about karma coming in hot.

Recently, on the December 3rd episode of The ‘College Football Podcast’ Rece Davis couldn’t help but flex for Kyle McCord. “Best in the game to me: Kyle McCord,” Davis declared. “What a day Kyle McCord had—26 of 36, 380 yards, and three touchdowns. He’s the nation’s leading passer and he led Syracuse to a victory over Miami—42-38, knocking the Canes out of the ACC Championship Game.” Imagine being the guy Ohio State couldn’t wait to replace and then dropping stats like that. If McCord’s cooking, Ohio State’s eating humble pie.

The former Ohio State QB labeled a liability, just ended Miami’s ACC title hopes and showed he’s thriving where he’s appreciated. Now, that he’s leading the nation in passing yards, orchestrating wins over ranked teams, and silencing critics, McCord’s revenge story isn’t just sweet—it’s elite.

Davis didn’t just applaud McCord—he threw shade at his old team. “Ohio State scored 10 points and lost,” he said bluntly, highlighting the irony. Ohio State blamed McCord for their struggles against Michigan, but guess what? Even with a new QB, their Michigan problem didn’t go away. Meanwhile, McCord’s out here leading Syracuse to glory and making sure his name stays relevant in national conversations.

Then there was McCord’s post-game moment of pure pettiness—wrapped in class, of course. A reporter asked about his stellar performance against Miami, with Ohio State’s struggles looming in the background. His boys were leaning in with big smiles and excitement for his line. McCord kept it simple: “Everything comes full circle.” And the entire room erupted, Rece Davis stated. Translation? The guy’s been waiting to say this moment for a long time.

Kyle McCord’s revenge arc

Kyle McCord’s transfer to Syracuse after the 2023 season felt like a footnote, but now? It’s headline-worthy. He was supposed to be the Buckeyes’ 2024 starter, but Ohio State hit him with the blame card after their Michigan heartbreak. Instead of dwelling and moaning about it, McCord leveled up. Despite a rocky head-ache against Stanford and a diabolical 5-picks game against the Pittsburgh Panthers, he’s delivered an NFL-esque stat, this season. With 4,326 passing yards, 29 touchdowns, and a 9-3 record, McCord has Syracuse thriving.

Meanwhile, the Buckeyes find themselves in chaos. Losing 13-10 to Michigan—again—during the season finale, and missing out on the Big Ten Championship has left Ryan Day reeling. Ohio State’s relentless obsession with their northern rivals seems to be their undoing, year after year. As McCord racks up wins and accolades in upstate New York, the Buckeyes are stuck playing what-ifs. If this isn’t poetic justice, what is?

Kyle McCord didn’t just silence the doubters—he made them pretty irrelevant. Ohio State fans wanted a scapegoat, and now they’re watching that “scapegoat” torch defense on national TV while their team spirals. As Rece Davis said, “McCord’s best revenge is living well, and he is living well.” And with the Orange sitting pretty at 9-3, McCord isn’t just living well—he’s winning. Full circle, indeed.