Nothing to rationalize. Poor coaching and poor on field play. Players and coaches can contemplate that at Detroit bowl or NYC Bowl instead of a better bowl.
I know this board loves a good meltdown.
But we literally contractually can't go to Pinstripe, and if we lose to MSU they would be taken at 6-6 to Detroit. At 7-5 we're going to a good bowl, and likely not much different than we would have at 8-4.
I know that doesn't fit with the rage of the moment, but it's a fact.