...

What can you say? UNC had the game won; 24-6 in the 3rd quarter, only to let the Seminoles go on a 24-3 run to close the game. FSU QB Christian Ponder channeled his inner Johnny Unitas, going 33-40 for a career-high 395 yards and 3 TDs, and the lauded UNC defense could not stop FSU from scoring again...and again...and again.

As much as I hate knee-jerk analyses (it usually ends up in hasty remarks that you would later come to regret), I'm going to go against my better judgment and make a bold prediction here: the season is over for Carolina football.

Yes, I said it. You can all start looking forward to basketball season.

Though there are some positives to take away from this game - UNC RB Shaun Draughn had 120 yards on the ground, and the Heels had over 300 yards of total offense - there is simply no way this team can come back from an effort like this. To lose on the first-ever Thursday night game in Chapel Hill by squandering an 18-point 3rd-quarter lead accompanied by the amount of injuries on this football team is simply a killer; UNC will struggle to finish at .500 this season, and I highly doubt that this team will return to any form of postseason play this year.

Looking ahead it doesn't look any better. Virginia Tech will crush this team. Dook has a legitimate chance to beat Carolina for the second time this decade. Miami should win handily against UNC. Boston College is a better team than Carolina is at this point in time. NC State will look to continue their recent streak of dominance against the Heels, and they'll have momentum on their side playing at home. Frankly, it wouldn't be completely out of the question for UNC to go 0-5 to close out the season. Granted, I don't think it will happen, but the fact that it's not outside the realm of possibility is enough for me to declare this season a wash.

Move on, UNC football fans; it's time to look to next year for this program to once again try to live up to their "potential" or any expectations placed on them prior to the season.

And I'll leave with a thought that hadn't crossed my mind until tonight: what if what happened against FSU is as good as it ever gets in Chapel Hill?