Odom Engineers SU Overtime Win at UConn, 42-41

Saturday, October 3

Storrs, CT

12 PM

Syracuse University

2-2 , 0-2

UConn

2-3 , 0-0

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	OT	Final F
Syracuse	6	21	7	0	8	42
UConn	7	7	6	14	7	41

Postgame Notes

10/3/2026 4:21:00 PM | Football

Box Score Highlights Postgame Notes Press Conference

Amari Odom's fourth-down, 17-yard touchdown pass to Umari Hatcher, followed by Odom's two-point conversion, gave Syracuse (2-2) a 42-41 overtime victory at Connecticut (2-3) on Saturday at Pratt & Whitney Stadium.

It marked the second consecutive season the matchup between the Orange and the Huskies was extended into overtime. Syracuse came out ahead for the second year in a row and extended its winning streak in the Connecticut series to seven straight.

Odom, who was making his first start at Syracuse, tied the school record with five touchdown passes. He completed 27-of-37 passes for 335 yards and ran for a score, equaling the second-highest total of touchdowns responsible for by an Orange player, with six.

Umari Hatcher caught 12 passes for 152 yards and three touchdowns. Tylik Hill carried a career-high 28 times for 140 yards. Syracuse gained 509 yards on the afternoon.

Kalieb Osborne was 19-of-39 for 314 yards and three touchdowns through the air for Connecticut. Cyncir Bowers rushed 16 times for 163 yards and two scores.

It was a seesaw struggle from the opening kickoff.

Syracuse struck first. On its first possession, the Orange marched 70 yards in seven plays and capped the drive on Odom's 40-yard touchdown pass down the middle of the field to Hatcher. It was Odom's first scoring throw with Syracuse. The conversion attempt was blocked by Connecticut's Zakaih Saez.

The host Huskies answered on the next series when Osborne connected with Cam Abshire on an eight-yard touchdown pass. Jack O'Connor's point after put Connecticut ahead, 7-6.

The Orange regained the advantage early in the second quarter. A drive that featured Odom's 25-yard screen pass to David Clement and a spectacular 28-yard sideline catch by Cole Weaver was finished off on an Odom to Noah Meyers four-yard touchdown throw. Odom rolled right and Meyers dove to secure the reception in the end zone. Freshman Shay Barker's extra point gave Syracuse a 13-7 margin.

Odom keyed the next Syracuse possession, completing passes of six and 27 yards to Darius Johnson that put the ball at the Connecticut six-yard line. Odom kept the ball on the next snap, cut inside and plunged the final few yards into the end zone. Barker's second extra point provided Syracuse with a 20-7 advantage with 9:22 left in the opening half.

Syracuse's defense thwarted a potential Connecticut scoring drive later in the period. With the Huskies facing a third-and-10 from the Syracuse 10, Osborne fumbled while being sacked by Tunmise Adeleye and Keshawn Johnson recovered. Odom immediately went on the attack with back-to-back completions to Calvin Russell III that covered 14 yards. Hill later ran twice for 15 yards to put the ball on the Connecticut 41. Odom teamed with Hatcher again, this time on a 41-yard touchdown pass. Barker's extra point upped the score to 27-7 Syracuse with 3:19 on the clock.

On Connecticut's next snap, Syracuse linebacker Antoine Deslauriers forced Bowers to fumble, and Deslauriers recovered at the Husky 34-yard line. The Orange were unable to capitalize as Barker missed a 46-yard field goal.

The Huskies took advantage of the 1:45 left before the intermission. Four completions from Osborne quickly covered 67 yards and advanced the ball to the Syracuse nine-yard line. Two Syracuse personal-foul penalties gave Connecticut a first-and-goal from the four. Trey Cornist ran the remaining territory, finding paydirt with 11 seconds left. The extra point narrowed the gap and the teams entered halftime with Syracuse leading, 27-14.

The Orange took a big risk in the third quarter. A drive had stalled in Connecticut territory and Syracuse had a fourth-and-25 on the Husky 34. Syracuse decided to go for the first down, and Odom found a wide-open Daunte Bacheyie for a 34-yard touchdown pass. Barker's extra point put the Orange ahead, 34-14, with 7:58 left in the third quarter.

Connecticut refused to fold and marched 75 yards in 14 plays, and Bowers completed the advance with a 10-yard touchdown run. O'Connor's kick missed right, but the Huskies had closed the margin to 34-20. When Syracuse went back on offense, Odom was intercepted on the initial play by Renick Dorilas at the Orange 31. The Syracuse defense tightened, and a fourth-down tackle by Chris D'Appolonia on Connecticut receiver Ryder Treadway one yard shy of the first down returned the ball to the Orange.

The Huskies returned the favor by halting Syracuse on fourth-and-two at the SU 43 when Odom's pass to Clement fell incomplete. Bowers rushed right for nine yards, Osborne connected with Ky Wilson for 27 yards, and Osborne completed a seven-yard touchdown pass to Xavier Watson. The point after brought the Huskies within a touchdown at 34-27, early in the fourth quarter.

Connecticut made it all the way back to tie the contest at 34 after forcing the Orange to punt. Osborne ran for 13 yards and Bowers followed with a 71-yard sprint for his second score of the afternoon, completing the 84-yard drive at the 11:52 mark of the fourth quarter.

Each team had chances to win the game in regulation. The best opportunity came when Syracuse drove 68 yards to the Connecticut seven. On the 12^th play of the series, Odom was intercepted at the one-yard line by Jayden Price. Connecticut then moved 61 yards before Osborne misfired on a fourth-and-six pass at the Syracuse 38.

The Orange had 1:36 to work with in regulation. Syracuse picked up three first downs, but a 44-yard field goal attempt by Barker on the last play of regulation missed to the right.

Connecticut had the first try in overtime. Following an incomplete pass on first down, Osborne found Cornist in the end zone for a 25-yard touchdown. O'Connor's extra point gave the Huskies the advantage.

On Syracuse's possession, Hill carried for six and three yards, and a facemask penalty on the second run gave the Orange first-and-goal at the eight-yard line. Hill then plunged for a yard, and on second down, Odom was sacked for a 10-yard loss by K'Von Sherman and fumbled out of bounds on the play. On third down, Odom threw incomplete to the end zone, setting up the final-play drama. He fired a 17-yard pass to Hatcher, who was crossing the back of the end zone. Connecticut was flagged for roughing the passer on the touchdown toss, which gave the Orange the ball at the one-yard line for the conversion try. Odom kept the ball and sewed up the Syracuse victory with the two-point run.

Syracuse had three quarterback sacks -- by Adeleye, Keyshawn Johnson and Nissi Ogbebor. D'Appolonia had a team-leading nine total tackles.

The Orange were 10-of-17 on third-down conversion attempts, while limiting Connecticut to 2-of-10. Syracuse also had the advantage in time of possession, 35:27 to 24:33.

Odom's five touchdown passes equaled performances by Steve Angeli against Colgate (2025), Kyle McCord versus Washington State (2024), Eric Dungey against Wagner (2018), Zach Mahoney at Pittsburgh (2016) and Ryan Nassib versus Maine (2010). Mahoney holds the Syracuse record for touchdowns responsible for (seven), established at Pittsburgh (2016). Odom totaled six, and shares second place with Jim Brown versus Colgate (1956), Dungey versus Boston College (2018) and Angeli against Colgate (2025). Hatcher's 12 receptions tied for the eighth-most at Syracuse. The school record of 17 was set by Ervin Philips at NC State in 2017.

Syracuse faces a third straight road contest when it plays at Virginia on Oct. 10.