Even before the game was played, the Hurricanes faced the question.
If they came up short in their annual rivalry game with Florida State, could they bounce back?
Miami's players and coaches didn't care to address that topic before Saturday night's heartbreaking 29-24 loss to the 11th-ranked Seminoles, but now the Hurricanes have to deal with the harsh reality that after their previous two losses to FSU, they combined to go and post a 2-6 record.
In 2013, that meant losing three of their last five. Last season, that meant dropping their last three.
And in the emotionally-charged minutes after Saturday night's loss — Miami's sixth straight to the Seminoles and its fifth straight under coach Al Golden — a frustrated Brad Kaaya angrily vowed that this time, his team would bounce back.