[rmiller1959]

As Evan points out, our performance against Syracuse is consistent with how other teams, one ranked and the others current or former marquee programs, have played them since then, except we're the only ones in the group that lost. While I doubt we'll get any credits for that, it's revealing nonetheless. I believe the damage from losing this game comes from being favored going in, comparisons to last year's performance, the hype surrounding Malik, and the fact it was a prime-time game viewed by thousands of people who don't typically lay eyeballs on Liberty. Beating Ole Miss is the only way to get back into the national ranking conversation.