[10] In the game, McCord completed 13 of 18 passing attempts for 319 yards and two touchdowns with one interception in a 59–7 win and was named the Big Ten Conference Freshman of the Week.

[15] McCord competed with Devin Brown during spring practices and preseason training camp to succeed Stroud as Ohio State's starting quarterback in 2023.

[16] He was named the starter for the Buckeyes' season opener, although head coach Ryan Day stated that the competition was still ongoing.

[17] After completing 14 of 20 pass attempts for 258 yards and three touchdowns in a 35–7 victory in week 2 vs Youngstown State, McCord was named the starter for the rest of the 2023 season.

[18][19] In Week 4 against Notre Dame, McCord led a game-winning drive in the final two minutes as Ohio State won, 17–14.

[23][24] At Syracuse, McCord joined incoming head coach Fran Brown, whom he has known since his playing days in little league football.

[2] McCord had played youth football in front of Jeff Nixon, who would be the incoming offensive coordinator at Syracuse and had worked with quarterbacks coach Nunzio Campanile.

He would become teammates with Will Nixon, Fadil Diggs, Duce Chestnut, and Denis Jaquez Jr., with whom he had either played youth football or attended camps with.

[44] In the 2024 Holiday Bowl 52–35 win against Washington State, McCord finished the game with 5 passing touchdowns and 453 yards to put his season total at 4,779.