.David Hale, ESPN Team WriterSep 14, 2024, 06:14 PM ETCloseCollege football reporter.Joined ESPN in 2012. Grad of the College of Delaware.If university football were an animation, there would certainly've been an instant final December, following the committee shunned an unbeaten Florida State team coming from the playoff, when Mike Norvell would certainly possess concluded this was actually as poor as things can acquire, all while unknowingly standing underneath a piano perilously being actually uplifted to a 20th-floor window.Of course, after Fla Condition fell to Norvell's former institution, Memphis, 20-12 on Sunday, it's entirely feasible the Seminoles would certainly favor the piano to reality.Nine months earlier, Fla State had the globe's compassion-- a minimum of the parts of the globe that do not chant "S-E-C, S-E-C" at weddings, funeral services and also little ones's celebrations. It was quick and easy to as if that team. It was actually a team that battled tougher after shedding QB Jordan Travis, that gave all it had to always keep winning, that skipped its chance at the playoff not as a result of its very own mistakes but due to the board's whim.Editor's Picks1 RelatedNow, there is actually no compassion. There is merely a peculiar mix of pity, frustration as well as black humor, like splashing a cocktail down the front end of your pants.The beneficiary of the committee's selection was actually Alabama, and also traits might possess quickly changed towards a hopeless 2024 for the Tide, too. They shed their playoff game, waved farewell to the best trainer in the sport's past, then found a departure of players into the portal, consisting of 5 who left for Tallahassee.And however, on the same day Fla Condition struck a new nadir, Alabama stretched the exact same muscle it thus typically carried out under Scar Saban, annihilating Wisconsin 42-10 behind a five-touchdown performance from Jalen Milroe.In an extra only planet, Florida State may possess gotten a little great karma after the indignity of its own playoff snub. In a more reasonable planet, Alabama might, only when, be dealt a poor hand.But university soccer has actually shown, time and again, it doesn't care about fairness, however it carries out have one hell of a sense of humor.So in Madison, the Tide related to acquire down.Alabama players hop all around in the course of Jump Around pic.twitter.com/OytiNveT43u2014 Patrick Greenfield (@PCGreenfield) September 14, 2024 And also in Tallahassee, Florida State is ready to stuff it up as well as stuff it in.For Alabama, the lineup turnover just clearance for brand-new celebrities, like freshman receiver Ryan Williams, that recorded four balls for 78 lawns and a touchdown in Saturday's win. Williams is actually simply 17-- born just seven months before Saban coached his first game at Alabama, not outdated adequate to also remember there was actually a time one thing like an 0-3 begin would be inconceivable at Florida State.For FSU, there is actually no very clear course ahead. DJ Uiagalelei has been dreadful, the ground game has actually summoned little bit, the objectionable line that was actually supposed typically be a toughness got battered by a Group of 5 program, and the defense, which played its own ideal video game Sunday, still has plenty of openings. For the Seminoles, the only silver edging to derive from this awful begin to the period is it might possess lowered the course's media assessment sufficient that it may get away from the ACC for a conventional leave expense and also some Kohl's cash.Nine months ago, there could be a reasonable dispute concerning the comparative resumu00e9s of Alabama and also Fla State. On Saturday, during business breathers of the Trend's thumping of Wisconsin, it was actually possible to flip in between adds for "9-1-1: Lone Superstar" including an extensive learn derailment and an FSU game including a much more horrible learn wreck.To witness what is actually become of Fla State while because the board provided its own decision is tough to know, an avalanche of ceaseless anguish normally scheduled for "Found" flicks or minor climate problems at LAX.But it costs thinking about how utterly incomprehensible it is for Alabama to be listed below, too-- 3-0 with a road win in Big 10 nation only months after Saban's departure. Alabama has actually been actually the design for continual greatness for a generation, and also uniformity was typically attributed to Saban's relentlessness. But even he got to an aspect in which it was opportunity for one thing new, as well as however Alabama continues plugging along-- one dominant win after yet another, as dependable as the sunrise.None of the is proof the board acquired its own decision straight, certainly. That was last period-- a different group, a various opportunity. However it is evidence that within this disorderly sporting activity, success is actually fleeting and also possibility usually encounters past like a Florida Condition linebacker overlooking an address at free throw line of scrimmage.And even at an area like Alabama, a plan that has actually stood defiantly against the winds of change for 16 years now, it's constantly better to cherish the good things while you have them. Due to the fact that if there is actually anything we've learned from viewing Florida Condition these past 9 months it's this: It can consistently obtain worse.Jump to: LSU makes it through|Character changes|Arizona's most popular team The 1st 56 mins of Sunday's activity versus South Carolina was actually far from pleasing for LSU.A series of exclusive teams gaffes, two turnovers as well as some huge operates by Gamecocks QB LaNorris Sellers had the Tigers playing catchup usually. South Carolina jumped out to a 24-10 lead, observed LSU pull ahead quickly in the fourth one-fourth, then viewed Rocket Sanders burst for a 66-yard score.play1:20 Leaping block rejects LSU punt, establishes South Carolina TDMaurice Brown II blocks the LSU punt, which puts together a Raheim Sanders goal to pad the Gamecocks' lead.With less than 4 mins to play, LSU trailed by 4, and also Brian Kelly had gone through all 6 phases of trouble: Disappointment, indignation, violence, anger, inquiring to talk to the manager as well as, ultimately, speculating the completion his players.But Garrett Nussmeier rode to the saving with his 29-yard finalization to Kyren Lacy to boost a 55-yard goal travel to place LSU up 36-33. South Carolina possessed one last crack at the gain, trying a 49-yard basket as time ran out, but it missed, giving Kelly an odds to commemorate a hard-earned win before coming back to his workplace to view film as well as shriek right into a pillow.Week 3 vibe shiftsTrending down: Finishing all your throwsThe really good information for Michigan QB Davis Warren is actually every pass he included Michigan's 28-18 gain Arkansas State on Saturday was caught.The bad news is actually, three of all of them were caught by Arkansas State players.So, right here's where our company are with the speaking up for champs: After many years spinning with a carousel of quarterbacks that won their position by locating a golden ticket under a Detroit-style pizza, the Wolverines were actually treated to 2 times of J.J. McCarthy as well as assumed maybe factors had actually modified completely. Rather, Warren is averaging 6.1 yards-per-pass along with pair of goals and also 6 picks through 3 games.Now, USC is on deck upcoming week, and also Michigan is actually left looking for a response in between Warren or even Alex Orji or even to hope there's another QB tucked away in Jim Harbaugh's left storage locker behind those packages labeled "signals for every opponent, 2020-2023." Trending up: UNLV's case for Pac-12 expansionMatthew Sluka led an 18-play, 75-yard touchdown push that ate 9:31 off the appear the fourth quarter Friday night, as well as UNLV dismayed Kansas 23-20. It was actually the Rebels' 2nd sway a Power 4 challenger actually this time after pouring Houston in the opener. Just how impressive is that? Going Into Sunday, Northern Illinois' trouble of Notre Dame was actually the only various other Team of 5 sway a power association foe.Like along with anything in Las vega, it is actually a little skill and also a great deal of luck.play0:40 UNLV somehow develops wild fumble vs. KansasMatthew Sluka stumbles the round, but somehow UNLV retains possession after the sphere flairs numerous Kansas players' hands.Still, it is actually safe to mention Barry Odom has the Rebels coming to a head at the correct time, with UNLV's sales sound to the expanding Pac-12 right now appearing fairly powerful: A huge market, an excellent group, and also accessibility to myriad all-night snack bars. Then all Odom requires to perform is actually take that Pac-12 payment in chips, bet it all on black on a solitary live roulette spin, double down 2 or even 3 additional opportunities, and also upsurge-- UNLV is playing with SEC money.Land of the climbing Sun DevilsA year earlier, Arizona was the beloved of the university soccer planet after a frisking 10-3 period, while Arizona State was actually a laughing inventory pushed to start a chorus of battling quarterbacks potentially including a couple guys they located waiting outside a Tempe In-N-Out Burger.What a difference a year makes.Arizona waved goodbye to move train Jedd Fisch, who left for Washington, and opened this season with two ineffectual get New Mexico and Northern Arizona prior to falling to Kansas State 31-7 on Friday. It was Arizona's worst repulsive efficiency given that being shut out at Colorado in 2021. The Sunlight Devils, meanwhile, found a QB in Sam Leavitt and are actually riding higher after desisting Texas Condition on Thursday 31-28, beginning 3-0 for the very first time considering that 2019. Arizona Condition is the shock group of 2024 thus far (unless you consider negative unpleasant surprises, which Florida State wishes you don't), and also Dillingham's turnaround of a program left behind in ruin after the Herm Edwards time ended exactly as every person stated it would.