.David Hale, ESPN Personnel WriterSep 14, 2024, 06:14 PM ETCloseCollege volleyball reporter.Joined ESPN in 2012. Graduate of the Educational institution of Delaware.If college football were an anime, there would've been a moment final December, following the board brushed off an undefeated Fla State group coming from the playoff, when Mike Norvell would certainly've concluded this was as bad as factors might receive, all while unconsciously standing under a piano perilously being elevated to a 20th-floor window.Of program, after Fla State was up to Norvell's previous school, Memphis, 20-12 on Sunday, it is actually entirely possible the Seminoles will choose the piano to reality.Nine months ago, Fla State had the globe's sympathy-- at least the component of the planet that don't chant "S-E-C, S-E-C" at wedding celebrations, funeral services and also kids's gatherings. It was actually simple to as if that group. It was actually a team that combated more difficult after losing QB Jordan Travis, that provided all it had to always keep gaining, that overlooked its chance at the playoff not because of its very own oversights yet due to the board's whim.Editor's Picks1 RelatedNow, there is actually no sympathy. There is actually merely an odd mix of pity, disappointment and also darker wit, like splashing an alcoholic beverage down the face of your pants.The beneficiary of the committee's choice was Alabama, and factors can possess simply switched towards a dismal 2024 for the Tide, also. They lost their championship game, swayed goodbye to the best instructor in the sport's past, after that observed a departure of players right into the website, including 5 that left behind for Tallahassee.And however, on the exact same day Florida State hit a brand-new nadir, Alabama stretched the exact same muscle mass it so commonly performed under Nick Saban, obliterating Wisconsin 42-10 behind a five-touchdown efficiency from Jalen Milroe.In a much more only planet, Fla State may possess made a little excellent aura after the indignity of its own playoff snub. In an extra decent world, Alabama might, simply when, be dealt a poor hand.But college football has actually shown, over and over, it doesn't love justness, but it carries out have one heck of a feeling of humor.So in Madison, the Tide pertained to obtain 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 Condition prepares to pack it up and load it in.For Alabama, the roster turnover merely opened space for new celebrities, like fresher receiver Ryan Williams, that caught 4 balls for 78 backyards and a touchdown in Saturday's gain. Williams is actually merely 17-- born just seven months just before Saban coached his very first video game at Alabama, certainly not old sufficient to also remember there was actually an opportunity something like an 0-3 begin would be actually unthinkable at Fla State.For FSU, there's no very clear pathway forward. DJ Uiagalelei has actually been actually dreadful, the ground activity has actually rounded up bit, the repulsive line that was actually supposed typically be a stamina got manhandled by a Group of 5 system, and the protection, which played its own absolute best video game Saturday, still has plenty of openings. For the Seminoles, the only silver lining to take from this unhappy begin to the season is it may have decreased the program's media evaluation good enough that it can easily run away the ACC for a basic departure cost and also some Kohl's cash.Nine months back, there can be an acceptable discussion concerning the relative resumu00e9s of Alabama and also Florida State. On Saturday, during the course of commercial breaks of the Tide's thumping of Wisconsin, it was achievable to turn between adds for "9-1-1: Lone Star" including a large learn derailment as well as an FSU activity featuring a much more scary learn wreck.To witness what's happened Fla Condition while because the committee provided its decision is actually challenging to know, a barrage of unending anguish usually booked for "Viewed" movies or minor weather problems at LAX.But it deserves thinking about just how completely incomprehensible it is for Alabama to become here, too-- 3-0 along with a roadway gain in Big 10 country just months after Saban's leave. Alabama has actually been actually the model for sustained achievement for a generation, and also uniformity was actually usually credited to Saban's relentlessness. But even he connected with an aspect through which it was time for something brand new, and yet Alabama keeps on plugging throughout-- one dominant win after an additional, as trusted as the sunrise.None of the is actually verification the committee acquired its own decision right, naturally. That was last period-- a various crew, a different time. But it is actually proof that within this disorderly sport, greatness is actually fleeting and opportunity typically run-ins past like a Florida Condition linebacker overlooking a handle at the line of scrimmage.And even at a location like Alabama, a system that has actually stood certainly versus the winds of modification for 16 years now, it is actually regularly better to value the good things while you possess all of them. Because if there's just about anything our company've gained from viewing Fla Condition these previous nine months it's this: It can always get worse.Jump to: LSU survives|Character shifts|Arizona's trendiest team The very first 56 minutes of Saturday's activity against South Carolina was actually much coming from enjoyable for LSU.A collection of unique staffs gaffes, pair of turn overs as well as some major runs through Gamecocks QB LaNorris Sellers possessed the Tigers playing catchup commonly. South Carolina hopped out to a 24-10 top, saw LSU draw ahead briefly in the 4th quarter, after that found Rocket Sanders take off for a 66-yard score.play1:20 Jumping block rejects LSU punt, sets up South Carolina TDMaurice Brown II obstructs the LSU punting, which sets up a Raheim Sanders touchdown to pad the Gamecocks' lead.With lower than four minutes to participate in, LSU trailed by four, and also Brian Kelly had actually looked at all six phases of grief: Aggravation, indignation, violence, anger, inquiring to talk to the manager as well as, eventually, deliberating the completion his players.But Garrett Nussmeier rode to the rescue along with his 29-yard conclusion to Kyren Lacy to boost a 55-yard touchdown travel to put LSU up 36-33. South Carolina possessed one final crack at the succeed, seeking a 49-yard field goal as opportunity ran out, however it missed out on, providing Kelly a chance to celebrate a hard-earned gain prior to going back to his office to enjoy movie and shriek right into a pillow.Week 3 ambiance shiftsTrending down: Finishing all your throwsThe excellent updates for Michigan QB Davis Warren is every successfully pass he threw in Michigan's 28-18 get Arkansas State on Saturday was actually caught.The problem is, three of all of them were gotten through Arkansas Condition players.So, right here's where our team are actually with the standing up for champs: After decades turning via a carousel of quarterbacks that succeeded their position by finding a gold ticket under a Detroit-style pizza, the Wolverines were managed to pair of times of J.J. McCarthy and also thought possibly points had actually modified permanently. Rather, Warren is balancing 6.1 yards-per-pass with pair of goals and six picks by means of three games.Now, USC performs deck next week, and also Michigan is actually left behind searching for an answer in between Warren or even Alex Orji or to hope there is actually another QB stashed in Jim Harbaugh's deserted locker behind those containers tagged "signs for every enemy, 2020-2023." Trending up: UNLV's situation for Pac-12 expansionMatthew Sluka led an 18-play, 75-yard touchdown push that ate 9:31 off the appear the fourth one-fourth Friday evening, and also UNLV dismayed Kansas 23-20. It was actually the Rebels' second gain an Electrical power 4 enemy already this season after dumping Houston in the opener. How excellent is that? Going Into Sunday, Northern Illinois' distress of Notre Dame was actually the only other Team of 5 win over an electrical power conference foe.Like along with anything in Las vega, it's a little bit of ability as well as a lot of luck.play0:40 UNLV somehow formulates outrageous fumble vs. KansasMatthew Sluka screws up the ball, but somehow UNLV maintains ownership after the sphere styles a number of Kansas players' hands.Still, it's safe to say Barry Odom has the Rebels topping at the correct time, with UNLV's sales sound to the expanding Pac-12 currently appearing pretty powerful: A big market, a good team, as well as accessibility to myriad all-night cafeterias. At that point all Odom needs to have to do is take that Pac-12 payout in potato chips, bet all of it on dark on a solitary roulette spin, double down pair of or even three additional times, as well as boom-- UNLV is playing with SEC money.Land of the rising Sunshine DevilsA year back, Arizona was the favorite of the university football planet after a rollicking 10-3 season, while Arizona State was a laughing stock forced to start a carolers of having a hard time quarterbacks probably consisting of a couple fellas they discovered waiting outside a Tempe In-N-Out Burger.What a variation a year makes.Arizona swayed adieu to head trainer Jedd Fisch, that left behind for Washington, and opened this period with pair of unexceptional gain New Mexico as well as Northern Arizona just before falling to Kansas State 31-7 on Friday. It was Arizona's worst objectionable performance since being locked out at Colorado in 2021. The Sunlight Devils, on the other hand, discovered a QB in Sam Leavitt and also are actually riding high after desisting Texas State on Thursday 31-28, beginning 3-0 for the first time considering that 2019. Arizona State is actually the unpleasant surprise group of 2024 thus far (unless you count poor unpleasant surprises, which Fla Condition wishes you do not), and Dillingham's turnaround of a course left in ruin after the Herm Edwards period finished specifically as everyone mentioned it would.