.David Hale, ESPN Staff WriterSep 14, 2024, 06:14 PM ETCloseCollege football reporter.Joined ESPN in 2012. Grad of the College of Delaware.If university soccer were a comic strip, there would certainly've been actually a minute last December, just after the board brushed off an unbeaten Fla Condition group from the playoff, when Mike Norvell will've ended this was as negative as traits could get, all while unconsciously standing beneath a piano perilously being actually uplifted to a 20th-floor window.Of training program, after Florida State was up to Norvell's former university, Memphis, 20-12 on Sunday, it is actually completely feasible the Seminoles will favor the piano to reality.Nine months back, Florida Condition had the globe's sympathy-- at the very least the component of the globe that do not shout "S-E-C, S-E-C" at wedding ceremonies, memorial services and also kids's events. It was very easy to as if that group. It was actually a group that fought tougher after losing QB Jordan Travis, that offered all it needed to maintain gaining, that overlooked its chance at the playoff not because of its own errors but as a result of the board's whim.Editor's Picks1 RelatedNow, there is actually no sympathy. There is actually merely a weird mix of pity, frustration and also dark humor, like splashing a drink down the face of your pants.The recipient of the committee's selection was Alabama, and also factors can've conveniently switched towards a bleak 2024 for the Tide, also. They lost their playoff game, swung bye-bye to the greatest coach in the sport's record, then observed a departure of players in to the gateway, featuring five who left for Tallahassee.And yet, on the same time Florida State attacked a new nadir, Alabama flexed the exact same muscle it thus usually performed under Chip Saban, obliterating Wisconsin 42-10 responsible for a five-touchdown performance from Jalen Milroe.In a more just planet, Florida Condition could possess gotten a little great fate after the indignity of its playoff snub. In a much more decent globe, Alabama might, only as soon as, be actually inflicted a poor hand.But college volleyball has actually verified, over and over, it does not appreciate fairness, yet it does have one heck of a sense of humor.So in Madison, the Trend related to obtain down.Alabama gamers hop around during Jump Around pic.twitter.com/OytiNveT43u2014 Patrick Greenfield (@PCGreenfield) September 14, 2024 As well as in Tallahassee, Florida State prepares to load it up and stuff it in.For Alabama, the lineup turn over merely opened space for new celebrities, like fresher recipient Ryan Williams, that caught four receptions for 78 lawns and a touchdown in Saturday's succeed. Williams is simply 17-- born merely 7 months prior to Saban coached his initial video game at Alabama, certainly not aged sufficient to even bear in mind there was a time something like an 0-3 start would be unthinkable at Florida State.For FSU, there is actually no crystal clear road ahead. DJ Uiagalelei has actually been terrible, the ground video game has actually collected little bit, the offending line that was intended or else be actually a toughness received manhandled by a Group of 5 course, and also the defense, which played its finest video game Saturday, still contains gaps. For the Seminoles, the only silver edging to extract from this unpleasant start to the period is it may possess decreased the system's media assessment enough that it may run away the ACC for a conventional exit cost and also some Kohl's cash.Nine months ago, there might be a reasonable argument concerning the comparison resumu00e9s of Alabama and also Florida State. On Sunday, during commercial breaks of the Trend's clunk of Wisconsin, it was achievable to turn in between adds for "9-1-1: Lone Superstar" featuring a gigantic train derailment and also an FSU activity featuring an even more scary train wreck.To witness what's happened Florida State in the time because the board delivered its own judgment is tough to comprehend, a barrage of ceaseless anguish usually set aside for "Found" movies or even small weather problems at LAX.But it costs thinking about exactly how totally incomprehensible it is for Alabama to become right here, as well-- 3-0 along with a roadway win in Big Ten nation merely months after Saban's exit. Alabama has been actually the design for continual effectiveness for a generation, and that consistency was actually normally attributed to Saban's relentlessness. But even he reached out to a point in which it was time for something new, as well as but Alabama keeps connecting along-- one dominant gain after an additional, as dependable as the sunrise.None of the is actually evidence the board obtained its decision right, obviously. That was actually last period-- a different team, a various time. However it is actually proof that in this turbulent sporting activity, success is actually fleeting and possibility commonly run-ins past like a Florida State linebacker missing out on a tackle at free throw line of scrimmage.And also at a spot like Alabama, a program that has stood defiantly versus the winds of change for 16 years right now, it's always better to appreciate the good things while you possess them. Due to the fact that if there's anything we've learned from seeing Fla Condition these previous nine months it's this: It can always get worse.Jump to: LSU survives|Ambiance shifts|Arizona's most popular team The initial 56 mins of Saturday's game against South Carolina was much coming from pleasant for LSU.A series of exclusive crews gaffes, two turn overs and some huge runs by Gamecocks QB LaNorris Sellers possessed the Tigers playing catchup typically. South Carolina hopped out to a 24-10 lead, viewed LSU take ahead for a while in the fourth one-fourth, after that found Rocket Sanders burst for a 66-yard score.play1:20 Jumping block rejects LSU punt, establishes South Carolina TDMaurice Brown II obstructs the LSU punting, which sets up a Raheim Sanders touchdown to pad the Gamecocks' lead.With less than 4 moments to participate in, LSU routed through 4, as well as Brian Kelly had actually looked at all six phases of despair: Disappointment, indignation, violence, temper, asking to talk to the supervisor as well as, finally, pondering the implementation his players.But Garrett Nussmeier used to the rescue with his 29-yard completion to Kyren Lacy to boost a 55-yard touchdown drive to place LSU up 36-33. South Carolina possessed one final crack at the win, attempting a 49-yard basket as time ran out, but it skipped, offering Kelly an opportunity to celebrate a hard-earned win before returning to his workplace to watch movie and also shriek right into a pillow.Week 3 ambiance shiftsTrending down: Accomplishing all your throwsThe good news for Michigan QB Davis Warren is actually every pass he threw in Michigan's 28-18 gain Arkansas Condition on Saturday was caught.The trouble is, three of all of them were actually seen through Arkansas Condition players.So, right here's where our team are actually with the defending champs: After many years rotating via a slide carousel of quarterbacks that won their posture by discovering a gold ticket under a Detroit-style pizza, the Wolverines were actually dealt with to pair of times of J.J. McCarthy as well as thought probably things had actually altered for good. Instead, Warren is actually balancing 6.1 yards-per-pass along with 2 touchdowns and 6 picks by means of three games.Now, USC is on deck following week, as well as Michigan is left looking for an answer between Warren or Alex Orji or to hope there is actually one more QB tucked away in Jim Harbaugh's deserted locker behind those boxes designated "signs for each enemy, 2020-2023." Trending up: UNLV's situation for Pac-12 expansionMatthew Sluka led an 18-play, 75-yard goal push that ate 9:31 off the clock in the 4th quarter Friday evening, and UNLV dismayed Kansas 23-20. It was the Rebels' 2nd win over a Power 4 enemy actually this season after unloading Houston in the opener. How exceptional is actually that? Entering Into Saturday, Northern Illinois' distress of Notre Dame was the only various other Team of 5 get a power event foe.Like along with everything in Vegas, it is actually a little bit of ability and a ton of luck.play0:40 UNLV somehow creates wild fumble vs. KansasMatthew Sluka screws up the round, but somehow UNLV keeps belongings after the ball flairs a number of Kansas gamers' hands.Still, it's risk-free to state Barry Odom possesses the Rebels peaking at the right time, along with UNLV's sales pitch to the extending Pac-12 now appearing pretty tough: A large market, a really good team, and access to myriad all-night smorgasbords. Then all Odom needs to perform is take that Pac-12 payment in potato chips, bet all of it on black on a single roulette twist, double down two or even three even more opportunities, and also boom-- UNLV is actually having fun with SEC money.Land of the rising Sunshine DevilsA year ago, Arizona was actually the favorite of the college regulation football globe after a rollicking 10-3 time, while Arizona State was a laughing supply forced to begin a carolers of battling quarterbacks perhaps including a married couple people they found standing by outside a Tempe In-N-Out Burger.What a distinction a year makes.Arizona swayed goodbye to head trainer Jedd Fisch, that left behind for Washington, and opened this time along with two ineffectual sway New Mexico and also Northern Arizona prior to falling to Kansas State 31-7 on Friday. It was Arizona's worst offensive functionality given that being actually shut out at Colorado in 2021. The Sunlight Devils, however, discovered a QB in Sam Leavitt as well as are actually using higher after desisting Texas Condition on Thursday 31-28, beginning 3-0 for the very first time given that 2019. Arizona State is actually the shock group of 2024 thus far (unless you count poor shocks, which Florida Condition hopes you don't), and also Dillingham's turnaround of a program left in disarray after the Herm Edwards era ended specifically as everybody stated it would certainly.