.David Hale, ESPN Staff WriterSep 14, 2024, 06:14 PM ETCloseCollege football reporter.Joined ESPN in 2012. Grad of the College of Delaware.If college regulation football were a comic strip, there will possess been a minute last December, after the committee brushed off an unbeaten Fla State crew from the playoff, when Mike Norvell will've ended this was actually as bad as things could possibly receive, all while unwittingly standing under a piano perilously being actually uplifted to a 20th-floor window.Of course, after Florida Condition was up to Norvell's former institution, Memphis, 20-12 on Saturday, it's totally feasible the Seminoles will favor the piano to reality.Nine months earlier, Fla Condition had the globe's sympathy-- at the very least the component of the world that do not shout "S-E-C, S-E-C" at wedding events, funeral services and also kids's parties. It was actually effortless to just like that team. It was a group that combated more challenging after dropping QB Jordan Travis, that offered all it needed to maintain winning, that skipped its own shot at the playoff certainly not due to its own mistakes yet due to the board's whim.Editor's Picks1 RelatedNow, there is actually no compassion. There is actually just a weird mix of pity, aggravation and also black wit, like splashing a beverage down the front end of your pants.The beneficiary of the board's decision was Alabama, and factors could've effortlessly moved towards a bleak 2024 for the Trend, too. They lost their championship game, waved adieu to the greatest instructor in the sport's past, then saw a departure of players into the portal, featuring five who left for Tallahassee.And however, on the very same time Florida State reached a brand-new low point, Alabama bent the same muscular tissue it so commonly carried out under Chip Saban, wiping out Wisconsin 42-10 responsible for a five-touchdown functionality from Jalen Milroe.In an extra merely globe, Florida State might possess made a little bit of great fate after the indignity of its own playoff snub. In an extra reasonable world, Alabama might, merely once, be dealt a bad hand.But college volleyball has confirmed, time and again, it does not care about fairness, but it carries out have one hell of a feeling of humor.So in Madison, the Tide concerned obtain down.Alabama gamers leap about 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 pack it in.For Alabama, the lineup turn over simply opened space for brand-new superstars, like freshman recipient Ryan Williams, who recorded four balls for 78 lawns as well as a touchdown in Saturday's win. Williams is only 17-- birthed only seven months just before Saban coached his first activity at Alabama, certainly not old enough to even always 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 crystal clear road forward. DJ Uiagalelei has been nasty, the ground video game has actually collected little, the repulsive line that was expected typically be actually a durability received battered through a Group of 5 program, and also the defense, which played its greatest activity Saturday, still has plenty of openings. For the Seminoles, the only silver lining to extract from this awful beginning to the season is it might have lowered the program's media valuation good enough that it can run away the ACC for a regular leave fee and some Kohl's cash.Nine months ago, there may be an acceptable dispute concerning the comparative resumu00e9s of Alabama and Florida State. On Saturday, during industrial breathers of the Trend's clunk of Wisconsin, it was actually achievable to turn between ads for "9-1-1: Lone Celebrity" featuring a massive learn derailment as well as an FSU video game featuring a a lot more horrible learn wreck.To witness what's become of Fla State while due to the fact that the committee supplied its own decision is hard to understand, an avalanche of continuous torment usually reserved for "Found" movies or even slight weather problems at LAX.But it deserves taking into consideration exactly how completely incomprehensible it is actually for Alabama to be below, too-- 3-0 with a road win in Big 10 country only months after Saban's exit. Alabama has been the version for continual success for a creation, and that uniformity was usually credited to Saban's relentlessness. However even he connected with a factor through which it was opportunity for something brand-new, as well as yet Alabama keeps on connecting along-- one prevailing gain after one more, as reliable as the sunrise.None of the is actually proof the committee acquired its choice straight, of course. That was last season-- a various crew, a different time. But it is proof that in this particular turbulent sporting activity, success is actually short lived and opportunity often encounters past like a Fla Condition linebacker missing a take on at the line of scrimmage.And even at a location like Alabama, a program that has actually stood defiantly versus the winds of improvement for 16 years right now, it is actually constantly better to value the beneficial things while you possess them. Considering that if there's anything our team've profited from watching Florida State these past 9 months it's this: It can consistently receive worse.Jump to: LSU makes it through|Vibe changes|Arizona's best group The very first 56 moments of Saturday's activity versus South Carolina was actually much coming from enjoyable for LSU.A series of unique groups gaffes, pair of turnovers as well as some major operates through Gamecocks QB LaNorris Sellers possessed the Tigers having fun catchup often. South Carolina jumped bent on a 24-10 lead, viewed LSU take ahead briefly in the 4th quarter, then viewed Spacecraft Sanders blow up for a 66-yard score.play1:20 Jumping block denies LSU punt, sets up South Carolina TDMaurice Brown II blocks out the LSU punt, which sets up a Raheim Sanders goal to pad the Gamecocks' lead.With lower than 4 mins to participate in, LSU routed through 4, and also Brian Kelly had gone through all six phases of grief: Aggravation, indignation, violence, rage, asking to talk with the manager as well as, eventually, speculating the completion his players.But Garrett Nussmeier used to the saving with his 29-yard completion to Kyren Lacy to jumpstart a 55-yard touchdown ride to place LSU up 36-33. South Carolina had one last gap at the win, trying a 49-yard basket as time ran out, but it missed, providing Kelly a possibility to commemorate a hard-earned succeed just before coming back to his office to check out movie and also shriek right into a pillow.Week 3 feel shiftsTrending down: Accomplishing all your throwsThe great updates for Michigan QB Davis Warren is actually every elapsed he threw in Michigan's 28-18 sway Arkansas State on Saturday was actually caught.The bad news is actually, 3 of all of them were actually caught through Arkansas State players.So, listed here's where we are along with the defending champs: After many years revolving via a carousel of quarterbacks who won their setting by locating a gold ticket under a Detroit-style pizza, the Wolverines were actually handled to 2 seasons of J.J. McCarthy and also believed possibly factors had altered completely. Rather, Warren is actually balancing 6.1 yards-per-pass along with 2 touchdowns and also six selections through three games.Now, USC gets on deck upcoming full week, and also Michigan is actually left behind looking for a solution between Warren or Alex Orji or even to really hope there is actually an additional QB tucked away in Jim Harbaugh's deserted locker responsible for those boxes labeled "indicators for every enemy, 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 evening, and also UNLV distressed Kansas 23-20. It was the Rebels' 2nd gain a Power 4 enemy currently this season after ditching Houston in the opener. How remarkable is that? Entering Sunday, Northern Illinois' distress of Notre Dame was actually the only other Group of 5 get an energy association foe.Like along with everything in Vegas, it is actually a little bit of skill and also a ton of luck.play0:40 UNLV somehow creates outrageous fumble vs. KansasMatthew Sluka fumbles the round, but somehow UNLV maintains things after the ball styles various Kansas gamers' hands.Still, it's secure to state Barry Odom has the Rebels topping at the right time, with UNLV's purchases pitch to the growing Pac-12 now looking pretty solid: A significant market, an excellent group, and access to myriad all-night cafeterias. Then all Odom needs to accomplish is actually take that Pac-12 payment in potato chips, wager all of it on dark on a singular live roulette twist, double down two or even three more opportunities, as well as boost-- UNLV is actually playing with SEC money.Land of the increasing Sunshine DevilsA year back, Arizona was the favorite of the university soccer world after a skylarking 10-3 period, while Arizona Condition was a laughing supply forced to begin a chorus of struggling quarterbacks possibly consisting of a couple guys they located waiting outside a Tempe In-N-Out Burger.What a distinction a year makes.Arizona swayed bye-bye to head instructor Jedd Fisch, who left behind for Washington, as well as opened this period with pair of unexceptional wins over New Mexico and also Northern Arizona before being up to Kansas State 31-7 on Friday. It was Arizona's worst outrageous functionality because being locked out at Colorado in 2021. The Sunlight Devils, on the other hand, discovered a QB in Sam Leavitt and also are riding higher after knocking off Texas Condition on Thursday 31-28, starting 3-0 for the first time given that 2019. Arizona State is actually the surprise group of 2024 thus far (unless you consider negative unpleasant surprises, which Florida State hopes you don't), and also Dillingham's turn-around of a program left in wreckage after the Herm Edwards age ended precisely as everyone mentioned it would certainly.