I don't think being outplayed necessarily means lesser quality. It could just mean that the players gave everything they had and just fell short. Being outcoached I feel is a little more hard to stomache.
I agree it hurts more to know you lost a game to coaching, but IMO it is the easiest to correct. Take the 2011 Bama game. Miles out-coached Saban. Saban then wipes the floor with Miles. I just can't imagine being outplayed and thinking we still have better talent.