.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 regulation football were a comic strip, there will've been actually a moment final December, just after the committee brushed off an unbeaten Florida State crew from the playoff, when Mike Norvell will've concluded this was actually as bad as traits could possibly acquire, all while unconsciously standing underneath a piano perilously being actually raised to a 20th-floor window.Of training course, after Fla State was up to Norvell's former school, Memphis, 20-12 on Saturday, it is actually totally possible the Seminoles would prefer the piano to reality.Nine months earlier, Florida State had the globe's compassion-- a minimum of the portion of the globe that don't chant "S-E-C, S-E-C" at wedding ceremonies, funerals and also youngsters's celebrations. It was actually quick and easy to like that crew. It was actually a team that fought more difficult after losing QB Jordan Travis, that offered all it must always keep gaining, that skipped its own shot at the playoff certainly not due to its own blunders however because of the board's whim.Editor's Picks1 RelatedNow, there is actually no compassion. There is actually merely a strange mix of embarassment, aggravation and black humor, like spilling a cocktail down the front end of your pants.The named beneficiary of the board's decision was actually Alabama, as well as points can've effortlessly changed toward a hopeless 2024 for the Tide, too. They dropped their championship game, swung adieu to the greatest trainer in the sporting activity's past, at that point found a departure of gamers into the gateway, consisting of 5 who left behind for Tallahassee.And however, on the very same day Fla State reached a brand new low point, Alabama flexed the very same muscle it thus typically carried out under Nick Saban, obliterating Wisconsin 42-10 behind a five-touchdown performance from Jalen Milroe.In an even more merely planet, Florida State may possess gained a little bit of really good fate after the outrage of its own playoff snub. In an even more fair planet, Alabama might, simply the moment, be actually given a poor hand.But university soccer has verified, repeatedly, it does not care about justness, but it performs have one heck of a sense of humor.So in Madison, the Tide involved acquire down.Alabama gamers leap all around during the course of Dive Around pic.twitter.com/OytiNveT43u2014 Patrick Greenfield (@PCGreenfield) September 14, 2024 And also in Tallahassee, Fla State is ready to pack it up and also pack it in.For Alabama, the lineup turn over just opened space for brand-new celebrities, like fresher receiver Ryan Williams, who captured 4 receptions for 78 lawns and also a touchdown in Saturday's win. Williams is just 17-- born only 7 months before Saban coached his 1st game at Alabama, not aged sufficient to also keep in mind there was an opportunity one thing like an 0-3 beginning would certainly be actually unbelievable at Florida State.For FSU, there's no clear course forward. DJ Uiagalelei has been nasty, the ground game has actually mustered up little, the repulsive line that was meant otherwise be actually a toughness got manhandled through a Group of 5 program, and also the protection, which played its absolute best game Sunday, still has lots of gaps. For the Seminoles, the only silver lining to take from this unhappy beginning to the period is it may have reduced the plan's media appraisal good enough that it may get away from the ACC for a regular leave cost as well as some Kohl's cash.Nine months ago, there might be a practical controversy about the relative resumu00e9s of Alabama and also Fla Condition. On Sunday, during the course of business rests of the Trend's clunk of Wisconsin, it was achievable to turn in between adds for "9-1-1: Lone Celebrity" including a gigantic train derailment and also an FSU activity featuring an even more horrible learn wreck.To witness what is actually become of Florida State while due to the fact that the board provided its decision is actually tough to understand, a barrage of ceaseless torment normally scheduled for "Viewed" movies or even slight climate problems at LAX.But it costs thinking about how completely incomprehensible it is actually for Alabama to become listed below, as well-- 3-0 along with a street succeed in Big Ten country merely months after Saban's leave. Alabama has actually been the model for sustained greatness for a creation, which consistency was actually commonly attributed to Saban's relentlessness. Yet also he got to a factor through which it was actually time for one thing brand new, and but Alabama continues connecting throughout-- one dominant win after an additional, as dependable as the sunrise.None of the is actually proof the board got its choice right, of course. That was last season-- a various group, a various time. However it is actually verification that in this disorderly sporting activity, success is fleeting as well as opportunity commonly encounters past like a Florida Condition linebacker skipping a take on at free throw line of scrimmage.And even at a place like Alabama, a system that has actually stood certainly versus the winds of change for 16 years currently, it is actually always better to enjoy the benefits while you have them. Because if there is actually just about anything our team've profited from enjoying Fla State these past nine months it's this: It can easily always acquire worse.Jump to: LSU survives|Feel changes|Arizona's hottest staff The very first 56 minutes of Sunday's video game against South Carolina was far coming from positive for LSU.A set of exclusive staffs gaffes, two turn overs as well as some major runs by Gamecocks QB LaNorris Sellers possessed the Tigers playing catchup frequently. South Carolina jumped bent on a 24-10 top, found LSU pull ahead of time for a while in the 4th quarter, then viewed Spacecraft Sanders take off for a 66-yard score.play1:20 Jumping block refuses LSU punt, sets up South Carolina TDMaurice Brown II obstructs the LSU punting, which puts together a Raheim Sanders goal to pad the Gamecocks' lead.With lower than 4 moments to play, LSU routed by four, as well as Brian Kelly had experienced all six phases of grief: Stress, indignation, animosity, temper, asking to talk with the manager and, finally, speculating the execution his players.But Garrett Nussmeier rode to the saving with his 29-yard fulfillment to Kyren Lacy to start a 55-yard touchdown travel to place LSU up 36-33. South Carolina possessed one final fracture at the win, seeking a 49-yard field goal as time expired, but it overlooked, offering Kelly an opportunity to celebrate a hard-earned succeed prior to returning to his workplace to watch film and also shout right into a pillow.Week 3 ambiance shiftsTrending down: Completing all your throwsThe great news for Michigan QB Davis Warren is every successfully pass he threw in Michigan's 28-18 sway Arkansas Condition on Sunday was caught.The trouble is, 3 of them were seen by Arkansas Condition players.So, right here's where our company are with the defending champs: After many years rotating by means of a slide carousel of quarterbacks that won their posture through finding a golden ticket under a Detroit-style pizza, the Wolverines were handled to 2 periods of J.J. McCarthy and also assumed maybe points had actually transformed for good. Instead, Warren is balancing 6.1 yards-per-pass along with two touchdowns and 6 selections through three games.Now, USC performs deck next full week, and also Michigan is left trying to find a response in between Warren or Alex Orji or to hope there is actually another QB stowed away in Jim Harbaugh's left locker responsible for those packages labeled "signs for every rival, 2020-2023." Trending up: UNLV's case for Pac-12 expansionMatthew Sluka led an 18-play, 75-yard goal drive that ate 9:31 off the appear the fourth quarter Friday evening, and UNLV distressed Kansas 23-20. It was the Rebels' 2nd sway a Power 4 enemy already this season after dumping Houston in the opener. How remarkable is that? Entering Into Sunday, Northern Illinois' distress of Notre Dame was the only other Group of 5 draw an electrical power event foe.Like along with just about anything in Las vega, it's a little bit of skill-set and also a lot of luck.play0:40 UNLV somehow produces wild fumble vs. KansasMatthew Sluka stumbles the round, but in some way UNLV retains things after the sphere touches several Kansas players' hands.Still, it is actually risk-free to say Barry Odom has the Rebels peaking at the correct time, with UNLV's sales pitch to the growing Pac-12 currently appearing fairly powerful: A major market, a really good crew, and accessibility to myriad all-night buffets. After that all Odom needs to have to carry out is take that Pac-12 payment in chips, bet everything on dark on a single live roulette spin, double down two or even 3 more times, and also boom-- UNLV is actually playing with SEC money.Land of the increasing Sunshine DevilsA year ago, Arizona was the beloved of the university football globe after a skylarking 10-3 time, while Arizona Condition was a laughing sell forced to begin a chorus of battling quarterbacks probably consisting of a couple people they found hanging around outside a Tempe In-N-Out Burger.What a distinction a year makes.Arizona swayed farewell to head instructor Jedd Fisch, that left for Washington, and also opened this time along with pair of ineffectual gain New Mexico as well as Northern Arizona prior to falling to Kansas State 31-7 on Friday. It was actually Arizona's worst repulsive functionality since being actually locked out at Colorado in 2021. The Sunshine Devils, on the other hand, discovered a QB in Sam Leavitt as well as are riding high after eliminating Texas State on Thursday 31-28, starting 3-0 for the first time since 2019. Arizona State is actually the shock group of 2024 up until now (unless you count poor shocks, which Florida Condition hopes you don't), as well as Dillingham's turn-around of a course left behind in shambles after the Herm Edwards age ended exactly as everybody claimed it would.