.David Hale, ESPN Team WriterSep 14, 2024, 06:14 PM ETCloseCollege football reporter.Joined ESPN in 2012. Grad of the Educational institution of Delaware.If college football were actually a comic strip, there would possess been actually a moment final December, just after the board shunned an undefeated Fla Condition staff from the playoff, when Mike Norvell would certainly possess concluded this was as negative as things might receive, all while unknowingly standing beneath a piano perilously being elevated to a 20th-floor window.Of training course, after Florida State fell to Norvell's former college, Memphis, 20-12 on Saturday, it's completely feasible the Seminoles would prefer the piano to reality.Nine months back, Florida Condition had the planet's sympathy-- at the very least the parts of the globe that do not chant "S-E-C, S-E-C" at wedding ceremonies, funerals and little ones's celebrations. It was actually effortless to like that team. It was a team that combated more difficult after dropping QB Jordan Travis, that offered all it needed to keep succeeding, that missed its own shot at the playoff certainly not because of its personal blunders however due to the committee's whim.Editor's Picks1 RelatedNow, there is no compassion. There is actually merely an unusual mix of embarassment, frustration and also black humor, like splashing a drink down the face of your pants.The beneficiary of the board's choice was actually Alabama, as well as things might possess quickly changed towards a bleak 2024 for the Trend, also. They shed their championship game, waved goodbye to the best instructor in the sport's record, then saw an exodus of gamers into the portal, featuring five who left behind for Tallahassee.And however, on the very same time Florida State reached a brand new nadir, Alabama stretched the very same muscle mass it so usually performed under Nick Saban, obliterating Wisconsin 42-10 behind a five-touchdown functionality from Jalen Milroe.In a more just world, Florida State might possess earned a little bit of excellent aura after the outrage of its own playoff snub. In an even more decent world, Alabama might, merely the moment, be inflicted a negative hand.But college football has actually proven, time and again, it does not care about justness, but it performs possess one hell of a feeling of humor.So in Madison, the Tide pertained to obtain down.Alabama gamers hop about throughout Dive Around pic.twitter.com/OytiNveT43u2014 Patrick Greenfield (@PCGreenfield) September 14, 2024 And also in Tallahassee, Florida Condition prepares to stuff it up and stuff it in.For Alabama, the lineup turnover just clearance for brand-new stars, like fresher receiver Ryan Williams, who recorded four balls for 78 backyards and a touchdown in Sunday's succeed. Williams is merely 17-- born just 7 months just before Saban trained his very first video game at Alabama, not old adequate to also remember there was actually a time something like an 0-3 begin would certainly be actually unthinkable at Fla State.For FSU, there's no clear pathway forward. DJ Uiagalelei has actually been awful, the ground video game has mustered little, the objectionable line that was intended or else be a strength obtained manhandled by a Team of 5 plan, and the protection, which played its finest video game Sunday, still has plenty of holes. For the Seminoles, the only silver edging to derive from this difficult beginning to the time is it might have lowered the plan's media valuation good enough that it may get away the ACC for a regular departure cost as well as some Kohl's cash.Nine months back, there may be an affordable debate concerning the comparative resumu00e9s of Alabama and Fla State. On Sunday, during business breaks of the Trend's thumping of Wisconsin, it was actually feasible to turn between advertisements for "9-1-1: Lone Star" including an enormous train derailment as well as an FSU game including a a lot more horrible train wreck.To witness what's happened Florida State while considering that the committee supplied its own decision is challenging to understand, a barrage of continuous anguish normally reserved for "Viewed" motion pictures or even small weather concerns at LAX.But it's worth taking into consideration how utterly incomprehensible it is for Alabama to become listed below, also-- 3-0 along with a street gain in Big Ten country simply months after Saban's leave. Alabama has actually been the design for sustained achievement for a creation, and also congruity was typically attributed to Saban's relentlessness. But also he got to a point in which it was time for something new, and also yet Alabama keeps on connecting throughout-- one dominant win after another, as trustworthy as the sunrise.None of the is proof the committee received its decision straight, of course. That was final time-- a different group, a various opportunity. But it is proof that in this chaotic sport, achievement is actually short lived and also chance commonly run-ins past like a Florida Condition linebacker missing a take on at free throw line of scrimmage.And even at an area like Alabama, a system that has actually stood certainly versus the winds of improvement for 16 years currently, it is actually always far better to appreciate the advantages while you have them. Since if there is actually just about anything our experts've picked up from enjoying Florida Condition these previous 9 months it's this: It can always receive worse.Jump to: LSU survives|Feel shifts|Arizona's most popular crew The initial 56 moments of Saturday's video game against South Carolina was far from pleasurable for LSU.A series of exclusive groups gaffes, 2 turnovers and also some large operates by Gamecocks QB LaNorris Sellers had the Tigers playing catchup frequently. South Carolina hopped out to a 24-10 top, saw LSU draw in advance quickly in the 4th quarter, then viewed Rocket Sanders explode for a 66-yard score.play1:20 Leaping block denies LSU punting, sets up South Carolina TDMaurice Brown II blocks the LSU punt, which establishes a Raheim Sanders touchdown to pad the Gamecocks' lead.With lower than 4 moments to play, LSU trailed through 4, and Brian Kelly had looked at all 6 phases of sorrow: Irritation, indignation, animosity, anger, asking to speak with the manager as well as, lastly, speculating the completion his players.But Garrett Nussmeier rode to the saving with his 29-yard finalization to Kyren Lacy to start a 55-yard touchdown ride to place LSU up 36-33. South Carolina possessed one final gap at the succeed, attempting a 49-yard basket as opportunity expired, however it missed, giving Kelly an odds to celebrate a hard-earned gain prior to coming back to his office to view movie as well as yell right into a pillow.Week 3 character shiftsTrending down: Finishing all your throwsThe excellent headlines for Michigan QB Davis Warren is every pass he included Michigan's 28-18 draw Arkansas State on Saturday was caught.The trouble is, 3 of them were actually caught through Arkansas State players.So, listed below's where our experts are actually along with the speaking up for champs: After years turning by means of a carousel of quarterbacks that succeeded their placement through finding a golden ticket under a Detroit-style pizza, the Wolverines were treated to pair of seasons of J.J. McCarthy and thought possibly traits had actually transformed for good. As an alternative, Warren is actually balancing 6.1 yards-per-pass with 2 goals and 6 picks by means of 3 games.Now, USC gets on deck following full week, as well as Michigan is actually left looking for an answer between Warren or Alex Orji or even to hope there's an additional QB stowed away in Jim Harbaugh's deserted storage locker responsible for those packages classified "signs for every enemy, 2020-2023." Trending up: UNLV's situation for Pac-12 expansionMatthew Sluka led an 18-play, 75-yard touchdown drive that chewed 9:31 off the clock in the 4th quarter Friday night, as well as UNLV dismayed Kansas 23-20. It was the Rebels' second sway an Electrical power 4 challenger presently this time after dumping Houston in the opener. Exactly how exceptional is that? Getting Into Saturday, Northern Illinois' upset of Notre Dame was the only various other Group of 5 draw an electrical power event foe.Like with everything in Vegas, it is actually a little skill as well as a bunch of luck.play0:40 UNLV in some way develops wild fumble vs. KansasMatthew Sluka messes up the round, yet somehow UNLV retains things after the sphere styles a number of Kansas players' hands.Still, it's safe to point out Barry Odom possesses the Rebels peaking at the correct time, along with UNLV's purchases pitch to the broadening Pac-12 now looking quite powerful: A large market, a really good group, as well as access to myriad all-night buffets. At that point all Odom needs to have to carry out is take that Pac-12 payout in potato chips, bet everything on black on a singular roulette twist, double down pair of or 3 more opportunities, as well as advancement-- UNLV is enjoying with SEC money.Land of the increasing Sunlight DevilsA year back, Arizona was actually the favorite of the college regulation football globe after a skylarking 10-3 season, while Arizona Condition was a laughing supply pushed to begin a carolers of struggling quarterbacks possibly including a married couple individuals they found waiting outside a Tempe In-N-Out Burger.What a distinction a year makes.Arizona waved farewell to move instructor Jedd Fisch, who left behind for Washington, and also opened this season along with two unimpressive wins over New Mexico and Northern Arizona prior to falling to Kansas State 31-7 on Friday. It was Arizona's worst repulsive performance because being shut out at Colorado in 2021. The Sun Devils, on the other hand, discovered a QB in Sam Leavitt and also are actually riding higher after knocking off Texas Condition on Thursday 31-28, starting 3-0 for the first time given that 2019. Arizona State is the surprise crew of 2024 so far (unless you consider bad surprises, which Florida State wishes you do not), as well as Dillingham's turnaround of a system left behind in ruin after the Herm Edwards age finished precisely as every person claimed it will.