SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) - One game into the new season and Syracuse still hasn't broken a losing streak that stands at six games and counting.
Head coach Doug Marrone might be lamenting the season-opening loss to Northwestern on Saturday, but remains upbeat despite the one-point setback. Marrone says he's "very encouraged about this football team. I feel like we are heading in the right direction."
Syracuse, which dropped the last five games of 2011 after starting 5-2, lost to the Wildcats 42-41 in the Carrier Dome and probably deserved a better fate.
Behind quarterback Ryan Nassib's record-setting performance, the Orange rallied from a 35-13 deficit midway through the third quarter, scoring four straight touchdowns to take a 41-35 lead with under 3 minutes remaining. But the Wildcats scored the clincher with 44 seconds left.
Next up for Syracuse is top-ranked Southern California on Saturday at Metlife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. Marrone thinks the rematch - Syracuse lost 38-17 to the Trojans on the road last year - will be different.
