Odom’s two-point run wins Syracuse’s 42–41 overtime escape at UConn

Amari Odom threw a fourth-down touchdown pass to Umari Hatcher in overtime, then ran for the winning two-point conversion as Syracuse escaped UConn 42–41 Saturday at Rentschler Field. The Orange needed both plays after losing a 20-point second-half lead, but left East Hartford with a victory that ended their two-game losing streak.

Odom completed 27 of 37 passes for 335 yards, five touchdowns and two interceptions. Hatcher caught 12 passes for 152 yards and three scores, including the 17-yard reception that kept Syracuse alive in overtime. The Orange improved to 2–2; UConn fell to 2–3 despite a comeback led by Cyncir Bowers and quarterback Kalieb Osborne.

The overtime sequence gave each offense a chance to win. UConn scored first when Osborne found Trey Cornist for a 25-yard touchdown, and the extra point made it 41–34. Syracuse moved near the goal line, but a sack pushed it back to the 17. An incompletion left the Orange facing fourth-and-goal before Odom found Hatcher for the touchdown. Rather than send the game to another overtime with a kick, Syracuse finished it with Odom’s successful run conversion.

Syracuse had been much more comfortable earlier. Hatcher caught touchdown passes of 40 and 41 yards, Noah Meyers added a four-yard scoring reception and Odom scored on a six-yard run. That production helped the Orange build a 27–14 halftime lead. Odom’s 34-yard touchdown pass to Daunte Bacheyie extended the margin to 34–14 in the third quarter.

UConn answered with three straight touchdowns to tie the game. Bowers scored from 10 yards out late in the third quarter. Osborne then connected with Xavier Watson for a seven-yard touchdown at the start of the fourth, and Bowers broke a 71-yard scoring run to make it 34–34 with 11:52 remaining. Bowers finished with 163 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries.

Neither side broke the tie in the remaining regulation time. Syracuse stopped UConn on fourth down, then moved into field-goal range on its last possession. Shay Barker’s 44-yard attempt missed as time expired, leaving the outcome to overtime. CBS’ contemporaneous game tracker and the final ESPN play-by-play both record the missed kick and the ensuing scoring possessions.

The game followed a week of questions about Syracuse’s quarterbacks. WAER reported before kickoff that Odom’s relief appearance against Pittsburgh had strengthened the competition at the position. Against UConn, his passing supplied five touchdowns and his running delivered both a regulation touchdown and the conversion that decided the afternoon.

Tylik Hill gave Syracuse 140 rushing yards on 28 carries. The Orange gained 509 total yards, converted 10 of 17 third downs and held the ball for 35:27. UConn gained 499 yards; Osborne completed 19 of 39 passes for 314 yards and three touchdowns without an interception. Both teams committed two turnovers. Syracuse’s final possession in overtime provided the narrow difference after a game in which both offenses repeatedly found answers.