Coming off a huge win at the Carrier Dome against Big East rival West Virginia – who was ranked 15th at the time – the Syracuse Orange found themselves 5-2 with good positioning in the Big East and one win away from being bowl eligible. No one expected that to be their last win of the season.
Since their win against the Mountaineers the Orange had lost four straight coming into today's final regular season game against the Pittsburgh Panthers. This was their last chance to win their sixth game of the season and be bowl eligible, but for the fifth consecutive game they failed to do that.
Behind a whopping six turnovers and 10 penalties, the Orange shot themselves in the foot all game long and ended up falling to the Panthers by a final of 33-20. Orange quarterback, Ryan Nassib accounted for four of 'Cuse's six turnovers, including a fumble – which was returned for a touchdown – with less than four minutes remaining and the Orange down only six. The fumble returned for a touchdown stretched the Panthers lead to 13, which all but ended the game and the Orange's bowl hopes.
For more on the Syracuse Orange, be sure to check out SB Nation's blog Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician. If you'd like to learn more about Pittsburgh, SB Nation's Cardiac Hill is where you will find it.