It would be easy for any of us to list all the things that went wrong in the 42-3 humiliation to TCU, but pointless.
Instead, let's talk about what we learned for 2015. It is a new year after all.
1. The Rebels desperately need more 4 and 5-star offensive linemen. Desperately.
2. The Rebels could still really use a big, powerful running back, but he will need an offensive line, too.
3. Laquon Treadwell and Vince Sanders are very valuable. The Rebels need Treadwell back in the worst way, and hopefully that Stringfellow kid is the real deal, because Ole Miss playmakers were MIA in Atlanta.
4. Ole Miss will be okay at quarterback if 1, 2 and 3 happen. I'm not pinning that entire loss on Bo. He is only as good as 1, 2 and 3. The same will be true for Chad Kelly, Ryan Buchanan and DeVante Kincade. If 1, 2 and 3 don't happen then prepare yourself for another 7, 8 or 9 win season.
5. TCU is a Playoff team, and yesterday for the first time, I saw a compelling argument for an 8-team playoff. The Horned Frogs are every bit as worthy as the other 1-loss teams. TCU should have gotten a shot.
6. At least State lost. Seriously, if the Bulldogs had won we'd never hear the end of it.
7. Nobody comforted themselves with thoughts of basketball season yesterday. Everyone instead looked straight to baseball. I guess none of us have much hope for the basketball team this season, which stinks. I miss Marshall.
8. Ole Miss wasn't the same team after it beat Alabama, even before it lost Treadwell. Were the Rebels playing out of their minds that day or did they lose focus after 7 straight wins? The LSU loss was inexplicable. So was Arkansas. The Rebels should have won those two games. It's something Freeze needs to think about. How do you keep your team up in the 2nd half of the season?
9. Despite the Peach Bowl, I'm darned excited about this afternoon's first ever College Football Playoff. Being able to watch those two games knowing the winners will face each other in a Championship Game adds an element of excitement that makes my favorite sport even better. It'll also help me forget yesterday, which is also key.
10. Let's all hope that performance yesterday only enhances recruiting. Now Freeze can walk in those living rooms and honestly say, "We need you."
We really do.
We really do.