.David Hale, ESPN Staff WriterSep 14, 2024, 06:14 PM ETCloseCollege volleyball reporter.Joined ESPN in 2012. Graduate of the Educational institution of Delaware.If university football were actually a comic strip, there would've been a moment final December, after the board disregarded an undefeated Fla State group from the playoff, when Mike Norvell would certainly possess ended this was actually as negative as points could possibly receive, all while unwittingly standing up beneath a piano perilously being elevated to a 20th-floor window.Of training program, after Fla Condition fell to Norvell's former school, Memphis, 20-12 on Saturday, it is actually completely achievable the Seminoles would certainly prefer the piano to reality.Nine months back, Fla State possessed the world's compassion-- a minimum of the aspect of the globe that do not chant "S-E-C, S-E-C" at weddings, funeral services as well as youngsters's gatherings. It was actually simple to just like that crew. It was actually a group that fought more challenging after shedding QB Jordan Travis, that offered all it needed to keep succeeding, that missed its own chance at the playoff not due to its own mistakes but as a result of the committee's whim.Editor's Picks1 RelatedNow, there is no sympathy. There is just a strange mix of pity, disappointment and darker humor, like spilling a beverage down the front end of your pants.The recipient of the committee's decision was actually Alabama, as well as points could've simply switched towards a dismal 2024 for the Trend, too. They dropped their championship game, waved farewell to the greatest instructor in the sporting activity's record, then saw a departure of gamers in to the site, including 5 that left for Tallahassee.And however, on the exact same time Fla Condition hit a brand-new nadir, Alabama flexed the very same muscular tissue it so typically did under Nick Saban, wiping out Wisconsin 42-10 responsible for a five-touchdown performance from Jalen Milroe.In a much more merely world, Florida Condition could possess gained a little great karma after the outrage of its own playoff snub. In an even more fair planet, Alabama might, only when, be actually given a negative hand.But university soccer has shown, over and over, it does not appreciate fairness, but it performs possess one hell of a sense of humor.So in Madison, the Tide concerned get down.Alabama players dive about during the course of Jump Around pic.twitter.com/OytiNveT43u2014 Patrick Greenfield (@PCGreenfield) September 14, 2024 And also in Tallahassee, Fla Condition is ready to stuff it up and pack it in.For Alabama, the lineup turnover just opened space for new superstars, like fresher recipient Ryan Williams, that captured four receptions for 78 yards and also a goal in Saturday's win. Williams is actually just 17-- born simply seven months prior to Saban trained his first video game at Alabama, not aged sufficient to even remember there was a time something like an 0-3 start will be unimaginable at Florida State.For FSU, there's no clear course ahead. DJ Uiagalelei has been actually dreadful, the ground video game has rounded up little, the offending line that was supposed or else be a stamina got manhandled through a Team of 5 course, and also the self defense, which played its own best video game Saturday, still contains openings. For the Seminoles, the only silver edging to take from this unhappy start to the period is it may possess reduced the program's media appraisal sufficient that it can easily escape the ACC for a common exit expense and also some Kohl's cash.Nine months earlier, there can be an affordable dispute regarding the relative resumu00e9s of Alabama and also Florida Condition. On Saturday, throughout industrial rests of the Tide's thumping of Wisconsin, it was possible to turn in between ads for "9-1-1: Lone Celebrity" featuring a massive train derailment as well as an FSU activity including an even more horrible train wreck.To witness what is actually become of Fla State while because the committee provided its own decision is actually challenging to know, a barrage of ceaseless misery typically set aside for "Saw" flicks or small weather problems at LAX.But it's worth thinking about how completely incomprehensible it is actually for Alabama to become right here, as well-- 3-0 with a roadway succeed in Big 10 country simply months after Saban's exit. Alabama has actually been the design for continual effectiveness for a production, and that uniformity was normally attributed to Saban's relentlessness. But also he reached out to a factor in which it was opportunity for one thing brand new, and also but Alabama goes on connecting throughout-- one prevailing succeed after one more, as trusted as the sunrise.None of this particular is evidence the committee obtained its choice straight, naturally. That was final period-- a various crew, a various time. Yet it is evidence that in this turbulent sport, success is fleeting and possibility usually run-ins past like a Florida Condition linebacker missing out on an address at the line of scrimmage.And even at a place like Alabama, a system that has actually stood up defiantly versus the winds of change for 16 years currently, it's regularly better to appreciate the benefits while you possess all of them. Considering that if there's anything our company have actually profited from viewing Fla Condition these past nine months it's this: It can easily regularly receive worse.Jump to: LSU survives|Ambiance changes|Arizona's hottest team The very first 56 mins of Saturday's game versus South Carolina was far coming from pleasant for LSU.A set of exclusive staffs gaffes, pair of turn overs and some large runs through Gamecocks QB LaNorris Sellers possessed the Tigers having fun catchup typically. South Carolina dove out to a 24-10 lead, observed LSU draw ahead temporarily in the fourth one-fourth, after that viewed Spacecraft Sanders blow up for a 66-yard score.play1:20 Leaping block denies LSU punt, establishes 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 moments to play, LSU tracked by four, and Brian Kelly had actually gone through all 6 stages of despair: Disappointment, indignation, violence, rage, inquiring to speak to the supervisor and, finally, pondering the execution his players.But Garrett Nussmeier rode to the saving with his 29-yard completion to Kyren Lacy to trigger a 55-yard goal drive to place LSU up 36-33. South Carolina possessed one last fracture at the gain, attempting a 49-yard field goal as time ran out, however it missed out on, offering Kelly an opportunity to commemorate a hard-earned win before coming back to his workplace to check out film and also shriek into a pillow.Week 3 character shiftsTrending down: Finishing all your throwsThe excellent news for Michigan QB Davis Warren is every pass he included Michigan's 28-18 get Arkansas State on Saturday was caught.The bad news is actually, three of all of them were actually seen by Arkansas State players.So, listed below's where we are along with the defending champs: After decades revolving with a carousel of quarterbacks who succeeded their position by locating a gold ticket under a Detroit-style pizza, the Wolverines were alleviated to 2 times of J.J. McCarthy as well as presumed maybe points had actually transformed for good. Rather, Warren is actually balancing 6.1 yards-per-pass along with 2 touchdowns and six choices via three games.Now, USC is on deck next full week, and Michigan is left trying to find an answer in between Warren or even Alex Orji or to really hope there is actually yet another QB stashed in Jim Harbaugh's abandoned storage locker behind those cartons classified "signals for every enemy, 2020-2023." Trending up: UNLV's situation for Pac-12 expansionMatthew Sluka led an 18-play, 75-yard goal drive that chewed 9:31 off the appear the fourth one-fourth Friday evening, and also UNLV dismayed Kansas 23-20. It was actually the Rebels' second get an Electrical power 4 opponent already this season after pouring Houston in the opener. Exactly how excellent is that? Entering Sunday, Northern Illinois' distress of Notre Dame was actually the only other Team of 5 draw a power association foe.Like along with just about anything in Las vega, it's a little skill and also a considerable amount of luck.play0:40 UNLV somehow generates outrageous fumble vs. KansasMatthew Sluka fumbles the ball, however somehow UNLV retains things after the ball flairs a number of Kansas gamers' hands.Still, it's risk-free to state Barry Odom has the Rebels reaching the top at the right time, along with UNLV's sales pitch to the increasing Pac-12 currently looking pretty tough: A significant market, a great team, and accessibility to myriad all-night smorgasbords. At that point all Odom requires to accomplish is take that Pac-12 payment in potato chips, wager it all on black on a single roulette twist, double down two or even three additional times, and also boom-- UNLV is actually playing with SEC money.Land of the rising Sunshine DevilsA year earlier, Arizona was the beloved of the university football world after a frisking 10-3 season, while Arizona Condition was actually a laughing inventory required to begin a carolers of straining quarterbacks possibly including a married couple guys they located hanging around outside a Tempe In-N-Out Burger.What a difference a year makes.Arizona swung adieu to head instructor Jedd Fisch, who left for Washington, and opened this time along with 2 unexceptional wins over New Mexico as well as Northern Arizona just before falling to Kansas Condition 31-7 on Friday. It was Arizona's worst objectionable performance considering that being actually locked out at Colorado in 2021. The Sun Devils, on the other hand, found a QB in Sam Leavitt and also are actually using higher after desisting Texas Condition on Thursday 31-28, beginning 3-0 for the first time considering that 2019. Arizona State is the surprise group of 2024 up until now (unless you count negative unpleasant surprises, which Florida Condition wishes you don't), and also Dillingham's turnaround of a system left in shambles after the Herm Edwards era ended specifically as everyone claimed it would certainly.