.David Hale, ESPN Personnel WriterSep 14, 2024, 06:14 PM ETCloseCollege football reporter.Joined ESPN in 2012. Graduate of the College of Delaware.If college football were actually an animation, there will possess been actually a moment final December, just after the board brushed off an unbeaten Florida Condition crew from the playoff, when Mike Norvell will've ended this was actually as negative as things might receive, all while unconsciously standing up below a piano perilously being elevated to a 20th-floor window.Of training program, after Fla Condition fell to Norvell's past school, Memphis, 20-12 on Sunday, it's entirely achievable the Seminoles would prefer the piano to reality.Nine months earlier, Florida State possessed the planet's sympathy-- a minimum of the portion of the planet that don't shout "S-E-C, S-E-C" at weddings, funeral services and youngsters's parties. It was easy to such as that group. It was actually a team that fought more challenging after dropping QB Jordan Travis, that gave all it must keep succeeding, that skipped its shot at the playoff not because of its personal oversights yet as a result of the committee's whim.Editor's Picks1 RelatedNow, there is no compassion. There is simply an odd mix of shame, irritation and darker humor, like spilling an alcoholic beverage down the front end of your pants.The beneficiary of the board's decision was actually Alabama, and also things could possibly've easily shifted towards a bleak 2024 for the Trend, too. They shed their playoff game, waved bye-bye to the greatest instructor in the sporting activity's past history, after that viewed a departure of players right into the gateway, featuring 5 that left for Tallahassee.And yet, on the same time Fla Condition attacked a brand new low point, Alabama stretched the exact same muscle it so often did under Scar Saban, wiping out Wisconsin 42-10 responsible for a five-touchdown functionality from Jalen Milroe.In a more only globe, Fla State could've gained a little great aura after the indignity of its own playoff snub. In an even more decent globe, Alabama might, simply the moment, be actually dealt a bad hand.But university football has actually verified, repeatedly, it doesn't care about fairness, yet it performs possess one hell of a feeling of humor.So in Madison, the Tide concerned acquire 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, Florida Condition is ready to stuff it up and stuff it in.For Alabama, the lineup turn over simply clearance for new celebrities, like freshman recipient Ryan Williams, who caught 4 balls for 78 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's succeed. Williams is just 17-- born simply seven months before Saban coached his 1st game at Alabama, not outdated adequate to also keep in mind there was an opportunity one thing like an 0-3 begin would certainly be actually inconceivable at Florida State.For FSU, there is actually no crystal clear course onward. DJ Uiagalelei has actually been actually bad, the ground video game has collected little, the annoying line that was meant or else be a durability acquired manhandled through a Team of 5 program, and the protection, which played its ideal activity Saturday, still hases plenty of holes. For the Seminoles, the only silver lining to derive from this unpleasant start to the season is it may possess lowered the program's media appraisal good enough that it can run away the ACC for a typical exit expense and also some Kohl's cash.Nine months back, there may be a sensible dispute concerning the comparative resumu00e9s of Alabama and Fla State. On Saturday, in the course of industrial rests of the Tide's thumping of Wisconsin, it was achievable to flip between ads for "9-1-1: Lone Superstar" featuring an extensive train derailment as well as an FSU game including a a lot more terrible train wreck.To witness what's happened Florida State in the time because the committee provided its decision is actually challenging to understand, a barrage of continuous anguish commonly booked for "Observed" films or even minor climate problems at LAX.But it deserves considering just how entirely incomprehensible it is actually for Alabama to be right here, too-- 3-0 with a street succeed in Big Ten country just months after Saban's leave. Alabama has been actually the model for continual success for a generation, and also uniformity was actually usually credited to Saban's relentlessness. Yet also he reached out to an aspect in which it was actually opportunity for something brand new, and also but Alabama keeps plugging throughout-- one prevailing win after one more, as dependable as the sunrise.None of this particular is actually verification the committee obtained its own choice right, obviously. That was last season-- a different staff, a various opportunity. But it is proof that in this disorderly sport, achievement is actually fleeting and also option commonly run-ins past like a Fla State linebacker overlooking a deal with at free throw line of scrimmage.And even at a place like Alabama, a course that has stood certainly against the winds of improvement for 16 years right now, it is actually regularly better to enjoy the good ideas while you possess them. Since if there's just about anything we've gained from enjoying Fla Condition these past 9 months it's this: It can easily constantly obtain worse.Jump to: LSU makes it through|Character switches|Arizona's most popular team The very first 56 minutes of Saturday's activity against South Carolina was actually far coming from enjoyable for LSU.A collection of exclusive staffs gaffes, pair of turn overs and some big operates through Gamecocks QB LaNorris Sellers possessed the Tigers playing catchup typically. South Carolina leapt out to a 24-10 lead, found LSU take in advance briefly in the fourth one-fourth, at that point found Rocket Sanders explode for a 66-yard score.play1:20 Leaping block refutes LSU punting, sets up South Carolina TDMaurice Brown II obstructs the LSU punt, which puts together a Raheim Sanders touchdown to pad the Gamecocks' lead.With lower than four moments to play, LSU tracked by four, and Brian Kelly had looked at all 6 phases of pain: Disappointment, indignation, violence, anger, inquiring to speak to the manager and also, finally, considering the implementation his players.But Garrett Nussmeier used to the rescue along with his 29-yard finalization to Kyren Lacy to jumpstart a 55-yard touchdown drive to put LSU up 36-33. South Carolina possessed one last gap at the gain, seeking a 49-yard field goal as time ran out, yet it overlooked, giving Kelly a possibility to commemorate a hard-earned win before returning to his office to see film and howl in to a pillow.Week 3 feel shiftsTrending down: Accomplishing all your throwsThe great information for Michigan QB Davis Warren is actually every elapsed he included Michigan's 28-18 gain Arkansas Condition on Sunday was actually caught.The problem is actually, 3 of them were actually found through Arkansas State players.So, listed below's where we are actually along with the standing up for champs: After many years turning via a carousel of quarterbacks who won their placement through locating a gold ticket under a Detroit-style pizza, the Wolverines were addressed to pair of seasons of J.J. McCarthy and believed perhaps things had changed for good. As an alternative, Warren is averaging 6.1 yards-per-pass along with pair of goals as well as six selections with three games.Now, USC performs deck following week, and Michigan is actually left trying to find an answer in between Warren or Alex Orji or to wish there's an additional QB tucked away in Jim Harbaugh's deserted storage locker behind those packages tagged "indicators for every opponent, 2020-2023." Trending up: UNLV's instance for Pac-12 expansionMatthew Sluka led an 18-play, 75-yard goal push that chewed 9:31 off the appear the fourth one-fourth Friday night, and also UNLV dismayed Kansas 23-20. It was the Rebels' second get an Energy 4 enemy already this time after ditching Houston in the opener. Exactly how impressive is actually that? Getting In Saturday, Northern Illinois' trouble of Notre Dame was actually the only various other Team of 5 draw an energy conference foe.Like with everything in Vegas, it's a little bit of skill and also a bunch of luck.play0:40 UNLV in some way creates crazy fumble vs. KansasMatthew Sluka messes up the round, however somehow UNLV retains property after the sphere styles various Kansas players' hands.Still, it is actually risk-free to point out Barry Odom has the Rebels topping at the right time, along with UNLV's sales sound to the expanding Pac-12 right now appearing quite solid: A large market, an excellent staff, and also access to myriad all-night buffets. At that point all Odom needs to have to carry out is take that Pac-12 payment in chips, bet it all on black on a singular roulette spin, double down two or 3 additional times, and also boost-- UNLV is having fun with SEC money.Land of the climbing Sunlight DevilsA year earlier, Arizona was the favorite of the college football globe after a rollicking 10-3 time, while Arizona Condition was actually a laughing supply required to begin a chorus of having a hard time quarterbacks probably including a married couple guys they located standing by outside a Tempe In-N-Out Burger.What a variation a year makes.Arizona swung goodbye to move trainer Jedd Fisch, that left for Washington, as well as opened this time along with two ineffectual get New Mexico and also Northern Arizona prior to being up to Kansas Condition 31-7 on Friday. It was Arizona's worst outrageous functionality considering that being locked out at Colorado in 2021. The Sunlight Devils, alternatively, located a QB in Sam Leavitt and are actually riding high after eliminating Texas State on Thursday 31-28, beginning 3-0 for the first time given that 2019. Arizona Condition is the surprise group of 2024 until now (unless you consider bad shocks, which Florida Condition hopes you don't), as well as Dillingham's turn-around of a plan left in mess after the Herm Edwards age finished exactly as everybody stated it would.