.David Hale, ESPN Personnel WriterSep 14, 2024, 06:14 PM ETCloseCollege football reporter.Joined ESPN in 2012. Graduate of the Educational institution of Delaware.If college football were actually a cartoon, there would certainly possess been a second last December, after the committee brushed off an undefeated Fla Condition group from the playoff, when Mike Norvell would certainly possess concluded this was actually as negative as things could possibly acquire, all while unconsciously standing under a piano perilously being raised to a 20th-floor window.Of course, after Florida State was up to Norvell's past college, Memphis, 20-12 on Saturday, it's totally feasible the Seminoles will like the piano to reality.Nine months back, Fla Condition had the planet's compassion-- at the very least the portion of the globe that do not chant "S-E-C, S-E-C" at wedding ceremonies, memorial services and little ones's celebrations. It was effortless to such as that team. It was a team that fought tougher after shedding QB Jordan Travis, that gave all it needed to keep succeeding, that overlooked its chance at the playoff certainly not as a result of its own mistakes yet due to the board's whim.Editor's Picks1 RelatedNow, there is actually no compassion. There is simply an unusual mix of pity, stress as well as dark humor, like splashing an alcoholic beverage down the front end of your pants.The named beneficiary of the committee's decision was Alabama, and factors might've effortlessly changed towards a gloomy 2024 for the Trend, too. They dropped their championship game, swayed bye-bye to the greatest trainer in the sporting activity's record, then found a departure of gamers into the portal, including five who left behind for Tallahassee.And however, on the same day Florida State struck a brand-new nadir, Alabama stretched the very same muscle mass it thus usually carried out under Nick Saban, annihilating Wisconsin 42-10 behind a five-touchdown functionality from Jalen Milroe.In an extra just world, Fla State could've made a little good aura after the outrage of its playoff snub. In a more decent globe, Alabama might, simply as soon as, be inflicted a bad hand.But university volleyball has actually verified, time and again, it doesn't respect justness, but it carries out possess one heck of a feeling of humor.So in Madison, the Tide pertained to obtain down.Alabama players hop around during Dive Around pic.twitter.com/OytiNveT43u2014 Patrick Greenfield (@PCGreenfield) September 14, 2024 And also in Tallahassee, Fla Condition prepares to stuff it up and stuff it in.For Alabama, the lineup turnover just clearance for brand new superstars, like fresher recipient Ryan Williams, who captured four balls for 78 lawns and a goal in Saturday's succeed. Williams is merely 17-- born just seven months just before Saban coached his 1st video game at Alabama, certainly not aged adequate to also bear in mind there was actually an opportunity something like an 0-3 begin would certainly be unimaginable at Florida State.For FSU, there's no very clear path onward. DJ Uiagalelei has been dreadful, the ground video game has collected little, the annoying line that was intended or else be actually a toughness obtained battered by a Team of 5 plan, and also the self defense, which played its greatest video game Saturday, still teems with holes. For the Seminoles, the only silver edging to derive from this unpleasant beginning to the season is it might possess decreased the plan's media assessment enough that it may escape the ACC for a conventional departure expense and some Kohl's cash.Nine months back, there may be a practical discussion concerning the comparative resumu00e9s of Alabama as well as Florida State. On Saturday, during industrial breathers of the Trend's clunk of Wisconsin, it was actually achievable to turn between adds for "9-1-1: Lone Star" including a substantial learn derailment as well as an FSU game including a a lot more horrible train wreck.To witness what is actually become of Fla State while since the board delivered its own decision is actually tough to understand, a barrage of nonstop suffering generally set aside for "Saw" flicks or small weather concerns at LAX.But it costs thinking about just how totally incomprehensible it is for Alabama to be here, too-- 3-0 along with a street win in Big 10 country merely months after Saban's departure. Alabama has been actually the model for continual achievement for a creation, and that congruity was typically credited to Saban's relentlessness. However also he connected with a factor through which it was opportunity for one thing brand-new, and yet Alabama keeps connecting along-- one dominant win after one more, as reputable as the sunrise.None of this particular is verification the committee got its decision straight, certainly. That was final season-- a different team, a different time. However it is proof that in this disorderly sporting activity, success is fleeting and opportunity typically brushes past like a Florida State linebacker missing out on an address at the line of scrimmage.And also at a location like Alabama, a plan that has actually stood defiantly against the winds of change for 16 years now, it's regularly far better to value the benefits while you possess all of them. Since if there is actually just about anything we have actually gained from viewing Florida State these previous 9 months it's this: It can easily always obtain worse.Jump to: LSU endures|Vibe shifts|Arizona's trendiest team The initial 56 minutes of Saturday's video game versus South Carolina was actually far from pleasant for LSU.A series of exclusive groups gaffes, two turnovers and some large operates by Gamecocks QB LaNorris Sellers had the Tigers playing catchup often. South Carolina hopped out to a 24-10 top, viewed LSU take in advance for a while in the fourth quarter, after that viewed Rocket Sanders explode for a 66-yard score.play1:20 Jumping block denies LSU punting, sets up South Carolina TDMaurice Brown II shuts out the LSU punt, which sets up a Raheim Sanders goal to pad the Gamecocks' lead.With lower than four moments to play, LSU tracked through 4, as well as Brian Kelly had actually experienced all 6 stages of trouble: Disappointment, indignation, animosity, rage, inquiring to talk with the supervisor and, ultimately, deliberating the implementation his players.But Garrett Nussmeier rode to the saving along with his 29-yard completion to Kyren Lacy to trigger a 55-yard touchdown ride to put LSU up 36-33. South Carolina possessed one final crack at the succeed, seeking a 49-yard field goal as opportunity expired, however it skipped, providing Kelly a chance to celebrate a hard-earned gain prior to returning to his office to view film and yell into a pillow.Week 3 atmosphere shiftsTrending down: Accomplishing all your throwsThe really good information for Michigan QB Davis Warren is every pass he threw in Michigan's 28-18 sway Arkansas Condition on Sunday was actually caught.The bad news is, 3 of all of them were actually seen through Arkansas Condition players.So, right here's where our company are along with the standing up for champs: After years turning through a carousel of quarterbacks that won their position by discovering a gold ticket under a Detroit-style pizza, the Wolverines were actually treated to 2 seasons of J.J. McCarthy and also assumed maybe traits had actually altered once and for all. Instead, Warren is actually balancing 6.1 yards-per-pass with two goals and six selections by means of three games.Now, USC gets on deck next full week, as well as Michigan is actually left behind trying to find an answer between Warren or Alex Orji or to really hope there is actually another QB tucked away in Jim Harbaugh's left locker responsible for those containers tagged "signals for every opponent, 2020-2023." Trending up: UNLV's situation for Pac-12 expansionMatthew Sluka led an 18-play, 75-yard touchdown drive that ate 9:31 off the clock in the fourth one-fourth Friday evening, and UNLV distressed Kansas 23-20. It was the Rebels' second sway an Energy 4 rival presently this time after disposing Houston in the opener. Exactly how remarkable is that? Going Into Saturday, Northern Illinois' trouble of Notre Dame was actually the only other Group of 5 sway a power conference foe.Like along with everything in Vegas, it is actually a little bit of skill and a great deal of luck.play0:40 UNLV in some way generates crazy fumble vs. KansasMatthew Sluka stumbles the ball, yet in some way UNLV maintains belongings after the ball styles a number of Kansas gamers' hands.Still, it's risk-free to state Barry Odom possesses the Rebels reaching the top at the correct time, with UNLV's purchases sound to the increasing Pac-12 now looking rather solid: A large market, a really good group, and accessibility to myriad all-night cafeterias. Then all Odom needs to accomplish is actually take that Pac-12 payment in potato chips, bet everything on dark on a singular live roulette twist, double down two or three additional opportunities, and also advancement-- UNLV is actually having fun with SEC money.Land of the rising Sunshine DevilsA year back, Arizona was actually the favorite of the college football world after a frisking 10-3 time, while Arizona Condition was actually a laughing stock forced to begin a carolers of straining quarterbacks perhaps consisting of a pair people they located standing by outside a Tempe In-N-Out Burger.What a distinction a year makes.Arizona swung adieu to head instructor Jedd Fisch, who left behind for Washington, and opened this season with 2 ineffectual wins over New Mexico and also Northern Arizona just before being up to Kansas Condition 31-7 on Friday. It was actually Arizona's worst repulsive functionality given that being locked out at Colorado in 2021. The Sunshine Devils, on the contrary, discovered a QB in Sam Leavitt and are using higher after desisting Texas Condition on Thursday 31-28, beginning 3-0 for the very first time due to the fact that 2019. Arizona State is actually the unpleasant surprise team of 2024 thus far (unless you count bad surprises, which Fla State hopes you don't), as well as Dillingham's turn-around of a system left behind in ruin after the Herm Edwards era finished precisely as everyone stated it will.