After weeks of speculation, Washington State found out Sunday it will be heading back down to San Diego to face ACC opponent Syracuse in the DirecTV Holiday Bowl on Dec. 27.

WSU (8-4, 0-1 Pac-12) has stumbled into postseason play after losing its last three games of the season to inferior opponents, but the Cougars will look to close out the 2024 season on a positive note. The final game of the season will have WSU traveling to Snapdragon Stadium, the same stadium where it beat San Diego State earlier this year.

Syracuse (9-3, 5-3 ACC) has been playing some of its best football near the end of the season, winning its last three games that included upsetting No. 13 Miami at home on Senior Day to spoil the Hurricanes’ conference title hopes.

Syracuse

Syracuse has allowed its fair share of points to opponents this season and currently ranks 92nd in the country in points allowed (28.8).

The Orange allow 216 passing yards and 153.7 rushing yards a game, which ranks just inside the top 70 in total defense.

Syracuse’s pressure at the line of scrimmage is the big difference maker as the Orange have collected 26 sacks on the season and average 2.2 sacks a game.

Washington State

WSU is not all that different from Syracuse in its defensive production as the Cougars are allowing 28.3 points per game, which ranks 87th in the country.

The Cougars’ total defense ranks outside the top 100 and particularly struggles in the pass game, ranking 117th compared to ranking 98th in rushing yards per game allowed.

WSU does have the turnover benefit, however, and ranks inside the top 20 for defensive takeaways at 1.6 turnovers a game.

Syracuse

The hallmark of the Orange offense is its pasings game. Syracuse is the best passing team in the country and is led by former Ohio State quarterback Kyle McCord, who transferred to Syracuse after an unsuccessful stint in Columbus, and is putting up video game numbers in his last three games.

Syracuse averages 363.1 passing yards per game but struggles to get a consistent run game going, averaging just 93 yards a game on the ground, seventh-worst in the country.

The Orange, led by head coach Fran Brown, love to emphasize the pass game — similar to an Air Raid, pro-style offense — letting McCord sling the ball from the pocket and run when need be.

Syracuse also has skill players surrounding McCord to elevate the entire offense, which ranks 33rd in points per game scored (32.6) and 10th in the nation in total offense.

Washington State

The Cougars’ success this season has mostly come from its offensive production and ability to light up the scoreboard.

WSU has sophomore quarterback John Mateer under center, who has been a force both in the air and on the ground with his dual-threat qualities and ability to make a deep throw to his playmakers and run the ball when facing pressure.

The Cougars are 11th in the country in points per game (36.8) and 22nd in total offense, averaging 268.8 passing yards a game and 171.6 rushing yards a game, mostly coming from Mateer who is fifth in the nation in total offense.

WSU has adjusted from the Air Raid offense that the late great Mike Leach made synonymous with the program and has now moved to a “Coug Raid” that also includes the running element with Mateer.

The Cougars and Orange have only met once before, back on Sept. 29, 1979, in a game ending with a 52-25 win for Syracuse over WSU.

Kickoff for the Holiday Bowl is set for Friday, Dec. 27 at 5 p.m. PST from Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego and will be broadcast on FOX.