.David Hale, ESPN Staff WriterSep 14, 2024, 06:14 PM ETCloseCollege football reporter.Joined ESPN in 2012. Grad of the College of Delaware.If college soccer were an animation, there will possess been actually an instant last December, just after the committee snubbed an undefeated Florida State group from the playoff, when Mike Norvell would've ended this was actually as negative as points could obtain, all while unwittingly standing underneath a piano perilously being actually uplifted to a 20th-floor window.Of training course, after Fla State was up to Norvell's previous university, Memphis, 20-12 on Saturday, it is actually completely possible the Seminoles would certainly favor the piano to reality.Nine months earlier, Fla State possessed the planet's compassion-- at the very least the portion of the globe that do not shout "S-E-C, S-E-C" at wedding ceremonies, funeral services and little ones's gatherings. It was actually very easy to such as that crew. It was a group that combated harder after shedding QB Jordan Travis, that provided all it must maintain winning, that missed its chance at the playoff certainly not due to its very own mistakes yet due to the board's whim.Editor's Picks1 RelatedNow, there is no compassion. There is actually merely an odd mix of embarassment, frustration and also black wit, like splashing an alcoholic beverage down the front end of your pants.The recipient of the board's choice was Alabama, and factors can possess effortlessly shifted toward a bleak 2024 for the Tide, as well. They shed their playoff game, waved farewell to the best trainer in the sport's record, at that point saw an exodus of gamers into the portal, consisting of 5 who left for Tallahassee.And however, on the same day Florida Condition reached a brand new low point, Alabama stretched the exact same muscle mass it so usually performed under Nick Saban, wiping out Wisconsin 42-10 behind a five-touchdown performance from Jalen Milroe.In an even more merely world, Florida Condition may've gotten a little good karma after the indignity of its own playoff snub. In an extra decent planet, Alabama might, simply once, be given a bad hand.But college volleyball has actually verified, time and again, it doesn't love fairness, but it carries out possess one hell of a feeling of humor.So in Madison, the Tide came to acquire down.Alabama gamers jump about throughout Dive Around pic.twitter.com/OytiNveT43u2014 Patrick Greenfield (@PCGreenfield) September 14, 2024 And in Tallahassee, Florida State is ready to load it up and stuff it in.For Alabama, the roster turn over simply clearance for brand-new stars, like freshman recipient Ryan Williams, who caught 4 receptions for 78 gardens as well as a goal in Sunday's gain. Williams is actually merely 17-- born merely 7 months before Saban trained his initial activity at Alabama, not outdated adequate to even bear in mind there was actually an opportunity one thing like an 0-3 begin would be actually unthinkable at Florida State.For FSU, there is actually no very clear path forward. DJ Uiagalelei has actually been horrible, the ground game has actually mustered little, the annoying line that was actually meant typically be actually a stamina received battered through a Group of 5 system, and the protection, which played its own ideal video game Saturday, still contains gaps. For the Seminoles, the only silver lining to extract from this awful begin to the time is it may possess lowered the course's media valuation sufficient that it can easily get away from the ACC for a common departure charge as well as some Kohl's cash.Nine months earlier, there can be an acceptable controversy about the comparison resumu00e9s of Alabama as well as Florida Condition. On Saturday, in the course of industrial rests of the Tide's clunk of Wisconsin, it was achievable to flip between adds for "9-1-1: Lone Superstar" including a large learn derailment and also an FSU game featuring an even more terrible learn wreck.To witness what's happened Fla Condition in the time considering that the board provided its decision is actually challenging to know, a barrage of ceaseless torment generally scheduled for "Observed" movies or even slight climate issues at LAX.But it's worth looking at just how totally incomprehensible it is actually for Alabama to become here, too-- 3-0 along with a street gain in Big 10 country only months after Saban's leave. Alabama has been actually the model for continual achievement for a creation, and also congruity was generally credited to Saban's relentlessness. However also he reached a point through which it was opportunity for something new, and yet Alabama goes on plugging along-- one dominant gain after yet another, as trustworthy as the sunrise.None of this is verification the committee obtained its selection right, certainly. That was last season-- a various group, a different opportunity. However it is evidence that in this turbulent sport, success is actually fleeting as well as chance usually run-ins past like a Florida Condition linebacker overlooking an address at free throw line of scrimmage.And also at an area like Alabama, a system that has stood certainly versus the winds of change for 16 years right now, it's consistently far better to appreciate the benefits while you have them. Due to the fact that if there is actually everything our team have actually profited from enjoying Fla Condition these previous nine months it's this: It may constantly obtain worse.Jump to: LSU survives|Vibe shifts|Arizona's trendiest team The very first 56 moments of Saturday's activity versus South Carolina was much coming from pleasant for LSU.A set of special teams gaffes, 2 turnovers and some huge operates by Gamecocks QB LaNorris Sellers possessed the Tigers having fun catchup commonly. South Carolina hopped out to a 24-10 lead, saw LSU take ahead of time quickly in the fourth one-fourth, then viewed Spacecraft Sanders explode for a 66-yard score.play1:20 Jumping block denies LSU punt, puts together South Carolina TDMaurice Brown II shuts out the LSU punt, which establishes a Raheim Sanders goal to pad the Gamecocks' lead.With less than 4 minutes to play, LSU tracked by four, and also Brian Kelly had looked at all six phases of sorrow: Frustration, indignation, hostility, temper, inquiring to speak with the manager and also, lastly, speculating the implementation his players.But Garrett Nussmeier rode to the saving with his 29-yard completion to Kyren Lacy to boost a 55-yard touchdown travel to put LSU up 36-33. South Carolina possessed one last gap at the gain, attempting a 49-yard basket as time expired, yet it missed, giving Kelly an opportunity to celebrate a hard-earned win before going back to his office to see film and also scream right into a pillow.Week 3 feel shiftsTrending down: Completing all your throwsThe really good news for Michigan QB Davis Warren is actually every pass he threw in Michigan's 28-18 win over Arkansas State on Sunday was actually caught.The problem is, three of them were gotten through Arkansas Condition players.So, here's where our company are along with the defending champs: After decades rotating via a carousel of quarterbacks who gained their placement through locating a gold ticket under a Detroit-style pizza, the Wolverines were managed to two times of J.J. McCarthy and also presumed maybe points had actually altered permanently. Instead, Warren is actually averaging 6.1 yards-per-pass with pair of goals and also 6 selections with 3 games.Now, USC performs deck following full week, and Michigan is left looking for a response in between Warren or Alex Orji or even to hope there is actually an additional QB tucked away in Jim Harbaugh's deserted locker responsible for those boxes labeled "indicators for every enemy, 2020-2023." Trending up: UNLV's instance for Pac-12 expansionMatthew Sluka led an 18-play, 75-yard touchdown push that ate 9:31 off the clock in the fourth one-fourth Friday evening, and also UNLV dismayed Kansas 23-20. It was actually the Rebels' second gain an Electrical power 4 opponent already this time after unloading Houston in the opener. Just how excellent is that? Going Into Saturday, Northern Illinois' upset of Notre Dame was the only various other Group of 5 draw an energy association foe.Like along with anything in Vegas, it is actually a little bit of skill-set as well as a great deal of luck.play0:40 UNLV somehow produces outrageous fumble vs. KansasMatthew Sluka screws up the sphere, yet in some way UNLV retains possession after the sphere styles numerous Kansas gamers' hands.Still, it's risk-free to claim Barry Odom has the Rebels peaking at the correct time, with UNLV's sales pitch to the extending Pac-12 currently looking pretty powerful: A large market, a great staff, and also access to myriad all-night cafeterias. After that all Odom needs to accomplish is actually take that Pac-12 payment in potato chips, wager everything on black on a single live roulette spin, double down pair of or three even more opportunities, and upsurge-- UNLV is actually enjoying with SEC money.Land of the climbing Sun DevilsA year earlier, Arizona was actually the favorite of the college regulation football planet after a frisking 10-3 season, while Arizona State was a laughing sell forced to begin a chorus of straining quarterbacks possibly consisting of a pair people they located standing by outside a Tempe In-N-Out Burger.What a variation a year makes.Arizona waved goodbye to move coach Jedd Fisch, that left behind for Washington, and opened this season along with two unimpressive draw New Mexico as well as Northern Arizona prior to being up to Kansas State 31-7 on Friday. It was actually Arizona's worst offending performance due to the fact that being actually locked out at Colorado in 2021. The Sunlight Devils, on the contrary, discovered a QB in Sam Leavitt and also are actually using higher after knocking off Texas State on Thursday 31-28, beginning 3-0 for the first time given that 2019. Arizona State is the surprise staff of 2024 so far (unless you consider poor unpleasant surprises, which Fla State wishes you do not), and also Dillingham's turnaround of a program left behind in mess after the Herm Edwards era ended specifically as every person said it would.