.David Hale, ESPN Workers WriterSep 14, 2024, 06:14 PM ETCloseCollege football reporter.Joined ESPN in 2012. Grad of the College of Delaware.If university football were actually an animation, there would possess been an instant last December, just after the committee snubbed an undefeated Florida Condition team from the playoff, when Mike Norvell will've ended this was as poor as points could possibly obtain, all while unconsciously standing underneath a piano perilously being lifted up to a 20th-floor window.Of training course, after Florida State fell to Norvell's previous institution, Memphis, 20-12 on Saturday, it is actually totally possible the Seminoles would choose the piano to reality.Nine months earlier, Florida State possessed the planet's sympathy-- a minimum of the component of the planet that do not shout "S-E-C, S-E-C" at wedding ceremonies, funerals and also youngsters's celebrations. It was actually simple to like that group. It was a team that fought more challenging after shedding QB Jordan Travis, that offered all it needed to always keep gaining, that skipped its own chance at the playoff not due to its very own oversights but due to the board's whim.Editor's Picks1 RelatedNow, there is no compassion. There is actually merely a weird mix of pity, aggravation as well as dark wit, like spilling a cocktail down the face of your pants.The named beneficiary of the board's decision was actually Alabama, and also factors could possibly possess conveniently changed toward a bleak 2024 for the Trend, also. They lost their championship game, waved bye-bye to the best instructor in the sport's past history, after that saw a departure of players in to the portal, including 5 that left behind for Tallahassee.And yet, on the very same time Fla Condition attacked a brand new nadir, Alabama bent the exact same muscle mass it thus often performed under Scar Saban, annihilating Wisconsin 42-10 responsible for a five-touchdown efficiency coming from Jalen Milroe.In an even more simply planet, Fla Condition could possess gained a little great fate after the indignity of its playoff snub. In a much more fair globe, Alabama might, only once, be given a bad hand.But college football has actually verified, again and again, it doesn't respect fairness, however it performs have one heck of a feeling of humor.So in Madison, the Trend concerned obtain down.Alabama gamers leap about during the course of Dive Around pic.twitter.com/OytiNveT43u2014 Patrick Greenfield (@PCGreenfield) September 14, 2024 As well as in Tallahassee, Fla Condition prepares to stuff it up and load it in.For Alabama, the lineup turnover merely clearance for brand new celebrities, like freshman recipient Ryan Williams, that recorded four balls for 78 gardens and a touchdown in Sunday's win. Williams is actually simply 17-- born merely 7 months prior to Saban coached his initial game at Alabama, not outdated enough to also keep in mind there was actually an opportunity one thing like an 0-3 start will be unbelievable at Florida State.For FSU, there's no very clear path ahead. DJ Uiagalelei has actually been actually awful, the ground activity has collected little bit, the outrageous line that was actually expected typically be actually a toughness acquired manhandled through a Group of 5 plan, and the protection, which played its finest game Saturday, still teems with gaps. For the Seminoles, the only silver edging to draw from this difficult begin to the time is it may have decreased the course's media appraisal enough that it may run away the ACC for a conventional leave fee and some Kohl's cash.Nine months back, there can be a reasonable argument about the relative resumu00e9s of Alabama and also Florida Condition. On Saturday, throughout office breaks of the Tide's clunk of Wisconsin, it was possible to turn between ads for "9-1-1: Lone Superstar" featuring an enormous train derailment and an FSU activity including a much more horrifying learn wreck.To witness what's become of Florida Condition while since the committee delivered its decision is actually hard to know, a barrage of continuous agony commonly booked for "Saw" motion pictures or small weather condition concerns at LAX.But it's worth considering just how totally incomprehensible it is actually for Alabama to be listed here, too-- 3-0 along with a street gain in Big 10 nation just months after Saban's departure. Alabama has been actually the style for sustained success for a creation, which consistency was generally attributed to Saban's relentlessness. However also he reached a point through which it was actually opportunity for one thing brand-new, and yet Alabama keeps on connecting along-- one prominent succeed after another, as trustworthy as the sunrise.None of this is proof the committee got its selection straight, of course. That was actually final period-- a various group, a different time. But it is actually verification that in this turbulent sporting activity, greatness is short lived and also opportunity often run-ins past like a Fla Condition linebacker overlooking a tackle at the line of scrimmage.And also at an area like Alabama, a plan that has actually stood defiantly against the winds of modification for 16 years now, it is actually always far better to value the good ideas while you possess them. Considering that if there's just about anything our team have actually gained from checking out Fla Condition these past nine months it's this: It can easily always obtain worse.Jump to: LSU survives|Feel switches|Arizona's most popular team The very first 56 minutes of Sunday's game against South Carolina was actually far coming from pleasant for LSU.A set of unique teams gaffes, 2 turnovers and some large runs through Gamecocks QB LaNorris Sellers had the Tigers playing catchup frequently. South Carolina dove out to a 24-10 lead, saw LSU take ahead temporarily in the 4th quarter, after that observed Spacecraft Sanders explode for a 66-yard score.play1:20 Leaping block refuses LSU punting, puts together South Carolina TDMaurice Brown II obstructs the LSU punt, which sets up a Raheim Sanders touchdown to pad the Gamecocks' lead.With less than four moments to participate in, LSU tracked by 4, as well as Brian Kelly had actually undergone all six phases of pain: Disappointment, indignation, violence, rage, inquiring to contact the manager and, eventually, deliberating the execution his players.But Garrett Nussmeier used to the rescue with his 29-yard fulfillment to Kyren Lacy to trigger a 55-yard goal drive to put LSU up 36-33. South Carolina possessed one final crack at the succeed, trying a 49-yard basket as time expired, yet it overlooked, offering Kelly a chance to commemorate a hard-earned win just before returning to his office to enjoy movie and also scream right into a pillow.Week 3 atmosphere shiftsTrending down: Accomplishing all your throwsThe great updates for Michigan QB Davis Warren is actually every successfully pass he threw in Michigan's 28-18 get Arkansas Condition on Sunday was caught.The trouble is actually, 3 of them were seen by Arkansas Condition players.So, below's where we are actually along with the standing up for champs: After decades turning through a slide carousel of quarterbacks who won their posture through locating a golden ticket under a Detroit-style pizza, the Wolverines were actually handled to two seasons of J.J. McCarthy and also believed probably factors had changed permanently. As an alternative, Warren is actually balancing 6.1 yards-per-pass along with pair of touchdowns and also six choices with 3 games.Now, USC performs deck following week, and Michigan is left looking for an answer between Warren or Alex Orji or to wish there is actually another QB tucked away in Jim Harbaugh's left storage locker responsible for those packages labeled "indicators for every rival, 2020-2023." Trending up: UNLV's case for Pac-12 expansionMatthew Sluka led an 18-play, 75-yard touchdown drive that ate 9:31 off the clock in the 4th one-fourth Friday evening, and UNLV distressed Kansas 23-20. It was actually the Rebels' 2nd sway an Energy 4 enemy already this period after pouring Houston in the opener. Exactly how outstanding is actually that? Entering Sunday, Northern Illinois' trouble of Notre Dame was the only various other Group of 5 sway an electrical power event foe.Like along with just about anything in Vegas, it's a little capability and also a bunch of luck.play0:40 UNLV somehow creates crazy fumble vs. KansasMatthew Sluka stumbles the round, yet in some way UNLV preserves belongings after the round styles numerous Kansas gamers' hands.Still, it is actually secure to mention Barry Odom possesses the Rebels reaching the top at the right time, with UNLV's purchases pitch to the broadening Pac-12 right now looking quite solid: A large market, a good staff, and accessibility to myriad all-night buffets. At that point all Odom requires to carry out is take that Pac-12 payout in potato chips, wager all of it on black on a singular live roulette twist, double down two or even 3 additional times, as well as boom-- UNLV is having fun with SEC money.Land of the increasing Sunlight DevilsA year back, Arizona was the beloved of the college soccer planet after a frisking 10-3 period, while Arizona State was a laughing stock obliged to start a carolers of straining quarterbacks possibly consisting of a pair fellas they found waiting outside a Tempe In-N-Out Burger.What a difference a year makes.Arizona waved adieu to head coach Jedd Fisch, who left behind for Washington, and also opened this season with 2 unimpressive draw New Mexico and also Northern Arizona just before falling to Kansas State 31-7 on Friday. It was actually Arizona's worst objectionable efficiency because being actually locked out at Colorado in 2021. The Sunshine Devils, on the contrary, found a QB in Sam Leavitt and are riding high after eliminating Texas State on Thursday 31-28, beginning 3-0 for the first time because 2019. Arizona State is the unpleasant surprise crew of 2024 so far (unless you consider bad unpleasant surprises, which Fla State hopes you don't), and Dillingham's turn-around of a course left in disarray after the Herm Edwards time finished precisely as everyone mentioned it will.