.David Hale, ESPN Staff WriterSep 14, 2024, 06:14 PM ETCloseCollege football reporter.Joined ESPN in 2012. Graduate of the University of Delaware.If university football were actually a cartoon, there would certainly possess been an instant last December, after the board shunned an undefeated Florida State staff from the playoff, when Mike Norvell would certainly've concluded this was actually as poor as factors could possibly acquire, all while unknowingly standing up beneath a piano perilously being raised to a 20th-floor window.Of course, after Fla Condition was up to Norvell's former college, Memphis, 20-12 on Sunday, it is actually totally feasible the Seminoles will like the piano to reality.Nine months earlier, Florida Condition had the world's sympathy-- at the very least the portion of the planet that don't shout "S-E-C, S-E-C" at wedding ceremonies, funerals and also kids's events. It was quick and easy to just like that group. It was a team that combated tougher after shedding QB Jordan Travis, that provided all it must keep succeeding, that skipped its chance at the playoff not as a result of its very own oversights yet because of the board's whim.Editor's Picks1 RelatedNow, there is no sympathy. There is actually just an unusual mix of embarassment, disappointment and dark humor, like splashing a drink down the front end of your pants.The beneficiary of the committee's selection was actually Alabama, and also factors might've simply moved towards a dismal 2024 for the Trend, as well. They shed their championship game, swayed farewell to the best instructor in the sporting activity's background, then saw a departure of gamers right into the site, including 5 that left behind for Tallahassee.And yet, on the same day Fla Condition attacked a brand new low point, Alabama bent the same muscular tissue it thus commonly did under Nick Saban, annihilating Wisconsin 42-10 responsible for a five-touchdown functionality coming from Jalen Milroe.In a much more only world, Fla Condition could've gained a little bit of really good fate after the outrage of its playoff snub. In a more decent planet, Alabama might, simply once, be inflicted a bad hand.But college soccer has actually shown, again and again, it doesn't care about fairness, but it does have one heck of a sense of humor.So in Madison, the Tide pertained to acquire down.Alabama players jump about during Dive Around pic.twitter.com/OytiNveT43u2014 Patrick Greenfield (@PCGreenfield) September 14, 2024 As well as in Tallahassee, Fla Condition prepares to load it up as well as load it in.For Alabama, the roster turnover simply opened space for brand new celebrities, like fresher recipient Ryan Williams, who recorded four receptions for 78 gardens and also a touchdown in Saturday's succeed. Williams is actually simply 17-- birthed just 7 months just before Saban trained his initial video game at Alabama, not aged adequate to also remember there was a time something like an 0-3 start would certainly be unimaginable at Florida State.For FSU, there is actually no clear course forward. DJ Uiagalelei has been nasty, the ground activity has actually mustered little, the annoying line that was intended or else be a strength obtained battered by a Group of 5 plan, and the self defense, which played its own greatest activity Sunday, still has lots of openings. For the Seminoles, the only silver lining to extract from this awful start to the period is it may possess reduced the course's media valuation sufficient that it can get away the ACC for a standard departure fee and also some Kohl's cash.Nine months ago, there can be a realistic discussion concerning the relative resumu00e9s of Alabama as well as Fla Condition. On Sunday, during commercial breaks of the Tide's clunk of Wisconsin, it was achievable to flip between adds for "9-1-1: Lone Celebrity" featuring an extensive train derailment as well as an FSU activity featuring a much more scary train wreck.To witness what is actually become of Fla Condition while due to the fact that the committee provided its verdict is actually difficult to understand, an avalanche of ceaseless agony commonly set aside for "Viewed" motion pictures or small climate concerns at LAX.But it costs taking into consideration exactly how utterly incomprehensible it is actually for Alabama to become listed below, as well-- 3-0 with a road gain in Big Ten country simply months after Saban's exit. Alabama has actually been actually the style for continual effectiveness for a creation, and also uniformity was commonly attributed to Saban's relentlessness. However even he reached out to a factor in which it was time for something brand-new, and also yet Alabama goes on plugging along-- one prevailing succeed after another, as trusted as the sunrise.None of the is actually evidence the committee obtained its choice right, naturally. That was actually final time-- a various team, a different time. Yet it is actually evidence that in this disorderly sport, greatness is actually short lived and chance commonly brushes past like a Florida Condition linebacker overlooking an address at the line of scrimmage.And even at a place like Alabama, a system that has actually stood up defiantly versus the winds of improvement for 16 years now, it is actually constantly better to cherish the benefits while you have all of them. Because if there's anything our experts've gained from viewing Florida State these previous 9 months it's this: It can easily regularly obtain worse.Jump to: LSU endures|Atmosphere switches|Arizona's most popular staff The initial 56 mins of Sunday's activity versus South Carolina was far coming from positive for LSU.A series of special groups gaffes, two turnovers and some significant runs by Gamecocks QB LaNorris Sellers possessed the Tigers having fun catchup typically. South Carolina leapt bent on a 24-10 lead, viewed LSU pull ahead of time for a while in the fourth one-fourth, then saw Spacecraft Sanders burst for a 66-yard score.play1:20 Leaping block refutes LSU punt, sets up South Carolina TDMaurice Brown II blocks the LSU punt, which establishes a Raheim Sanders touchdown to pad the Gamecocks' lead.With less than 4 minutes to play, LSU trailed by four, as well as Brian Kelly had gone through all 6 stages of agony: Stress, indignation, animosity, anger, inquiring to talk to the manager as well as, finally, deliberating the implementation his players.But Garrett Nussmeier used to the rescue with his 29-yard conclusion to Kyren Lacy to start a 55-yard touchdown drive to put LSU up 36-33. South Carolina possessed one final gap at the succeed, trying a 49-yard basket as time ended, however it overlooked, providing Kelly a chance to commemorate a hard-earned win just before coming back to his office to check out movie and also shout in to a pillow.Week 3 atmosphere shiftsTrending down: Completing all your throwsThe good news for Michigan QB Davis Warren is every pass he included Michigan's 28-18 draw Arkansas Condition on Sunday was actually caught.The trouble is actually, three of all of them were actually gotten by Arkansas Condition players.So, below's where our team are with the defending champs: After years rotating through a carousel of quarterbacks that won their placement by discovering a gold ticket under a Detroit-style pizza, the Wolverines were managed to 2 seasons of J.J. McCarthy as well as assumed possibly points had actually altered once and for all. As an alternative, Warren is averaging 6.1 yards-per-pass along with two goals and 6 choices by means of three games.Now, USC performs deck following week, and also Michigan is actually left behind looking for a response between Warren or even Alex Orji or to hope there's another QB stashed in Jim Harbaugh's abandoned storage locker responsible for those cartons tagged "signals for each opponent, 2020-2023." Trending up: UNLV's instance for Pac-12 expansionMatthew Sluka led an 18-play, 75-yard goal drive that chewed 9:31 off the appear the 4th quarter Friday evening, as well as UNLV upset Kansas 23-20. It was actually the Rebels' second gain an Electrical power 4 challenger currently this period after ditching Houston in the opener. How impressive is that? Going Into Sunday, Northern Illinois' upset of Notre Dame was the only various other Group of 5 draw an electrical power association foe.Like with everything in Vegas, it's a little skill-set and a considerable amount of luck.play0:40 UNLV in some way develops outrageous fumble vs. KansasMatthew Sluka stumbles the sphere, however somehow UNLV keeps belongings after the ball flairs various Kansas gamers' hands.Still, it is actually secure to point out Barry Odom possesses the Rebels peaking at the correct time, with UNLV's purchases pitch to the broadening Pac-12 now appearing rather tough: A major market, a good crew, and access to myriad all-night buffets. After that all Odom needs to have to accomplish is take that Pac-12 payout in potato chips, wager all of it on black on a single live roulette twist, double down pair of or three more opportunities, and boom-- UNLV is actually enjoying with SEC money.Land of the climbing Sunshine DevilsA year earlier, Arizona was the beloved of the college soccer planet after a rollicking 10-3 season, while Arizona Condition was a laughing inventory required to start a chorus of battling quarterbacks possibly including a pair fellas they discovered standing by outside a Tempe In-N-Out Burger.What a difference a year makes.Arizona waved bye-bye to head trainer Jedd Fisch, who left behind for Washington, as well as opened this time along with two unexceptional get New Mexico as well as Northern Arizona prior to being up to Kansas Condition 31-7 on Friday. It was Arizona's worst objectionable functionality due to the fact that being actually shut out at Colorado in 2021. The Sunshine Devils, alternatively, discovered a QB in Sam Leavitt and also are using higher after knocking off Texas Condition on Thursday 31-28, beginning 3-0 for the very first time because 2019. Arizona Condition is actually the unpleasant surprise staff of 2024 so far (unless you consider bad unpleasant surprises, which Florida State wishes you don't), as well as Dillingham's turn-around of a program left behind in shambles after the Herm Edwards time ended specifically as every person mentioned it would certainly.