.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 college football were actually a cartoon, there would've been a minute final December, following the committee snubbed an undefeated Florida Condition group coming from the playoff, when Mike Norvell would certainly possess ended this was actually as bad as points might obtain, all while unwittingly standing up underneath a piano perilously being actually uplifted to a 20th-floor window.Of training program, after Fla Condition was up to Norvell's previous institution, Memphis, 20-12 on Saturday, it's completely feasible the Seminoles will choose the piano to reality.Nine months ago, Florida Condition possessed the globe's compassion-- at least the parts of the world that don't shout "S-E-C, S-E-C" at weddings, memorial services and also kids's parties. It was easy to such as that staff. It was a team that battled tougher after shedding QB Jordan Travis, that provided all it needed to keep succeeding, that missed its own chance at the playoff certainly not as a result of its personal oversights but due to the committee's whim.Editor's Picks1 RelatedNow, there is actually no sympathy. There is only an unusual mix of embarassment, frustration as well as darker wit, like spilling a cocktail down the front of your pants.The beneficiary of the board's selection was actually Alabama, and factors could possibly possess easily changed towards a dismal 2024 for the Tide, also. They lost their championship game, swayed goodbye to the best trainer in the sporting activity's record, at that point found a departure of gamers in to the portal, consisting of 5 who left behind for Tallahassee.And yet, on the exact same day Fla Condition struck a brand-new nadir, Alabama flexed the very same muscle it so often carried out under Nick Saban, wiping out Wisconsin 42-10 responsible for a five-touchdown functionality coming from Jalen Milroe.In a more just globe, Florida State may've earned a little great aura after the indignity of its playoff snub. In a much more fair world, Alabama might, just once, be actually dealt a bad hand.But university soccer has verified, again and again, it doesn't appreciate fairness, however it carries out possess one heck of a feeling of humor.So in Madison, the Trend concerned obtain down.Alabama players hop all around during Jump Around pic.twitter.com/OytiNveT43u2014 Patrick Greenfield (@PCGreenfield) September 14, 2024 And also in Tallahassee, Florida State prepares to load it up and also stuff it in.For Alabama, the roster turn over just clearance for new stars, like freshman receiver Ryan Williams, who caught 4 receptions for 78 backyards as well as a touchdown in Saturday's gain. Williams is just 17-- born simply seven months just before Saban trained his initial activity at Alabama, certainly not old adequate to even don't forget there was a time something like an 0-3 begin will be unimaginable at Florida State.For FSU, there's no clear road onward. DJ Uiagalelei has actually been actually bad, the ground game has summoned little bit, the annoying line that was supposed otherwise be a toughness acquired manhandled through a Group of 5 course, as well as the defense, which played its own best game Saturday, still is full of openings. For the Seminoles, the only silver lining to extract from this difficult beginning to the period is it might have reduced the system's media evaluation good enough that it can easily escape the ACC for a typical leave cost as well as some Kohl's cash.Nine months ago, there may be a realistic discussion concerning the comparison resumu00e9s of Alabama and Fla Condition. On Saturday, during office breaks of the Tide's thumping of Wisconsin, it was actually feasible to turn in between advertisements for "9-1-1: Lone Superstar" featuring an enormous train derailment and an FSU video game featuring a much more scary learn wreck.To witness what is actually become of Fla Condition while because the board supplied its decision is challenging to understand, a barrage of ceaseless suffering typically reserved for "Saw" films or slight climate concerns at LAX.But it deserves thinking about how absolutely incomprehensible it is for Alabama to be below, as well-- 3-0 with a roadway gain in Big 10 nation merely months after Saban's exit. Alabama has actually been actually the version for sustained effectiveness for a creation, which uniformity was typically credited to Saban's relentlessness. But also he reached an aspect in which it was actually time for one thing brand new, and however Alabama continues plugging throughout-- one prevailing succeed after an additional, as reputable as the sunrise.None of this is proof the committee received its choice straight, of course. That was actually final period-- a various staff, a various time. However it is actually proof that in this chaotic sport, greatness is actually fleeting and also possibility commonly brushes past like a Fla Condition linebacker skipping an address at free throw line of scrimmage.And also at an area like Alabama, a course that has actually stood certainly against the winds of modification for 16 years now, it's constantly far better to appreciate the beneficial things while you have all of them. Because if there's everything we've gained from checking out Fla Condition these previous nine months it's this: It can easily always receive worse.Jump to: LSU makes it through|Character changes|Arizona's trendiest staff The first 56 moments of Sunday's activity against South Carolina was actually far coming from pleasurable for LSU.A series of special groups gaffes, 2 turnovers and some large runs by Gamecocks QB LaNorris Sellers had the Tigers playing catchup usually. South Carolina leapt out to a 24-10 top, viewed LSU take ahead temporarily in the fourth quarter, then saw Rocket Sanders burst for a 66-yard score.play1:20 Jumping block rejects LSU punt, puts together South Carolina TDMaurice Brown II blocks out the LSU punt, which establishes a Raheim Sanders touchdown to pad the Gamecocks' lead.With less than 4 minutes to play, LSU tracked through 4, and Brian Kelly had actually experienced all six stages of despair: Disappointment, indignation, animosity, temper, asking to speak to the manager and, ultimately, deliberating the implementation his players.But Garrett Nussmeier used to the rescue with his 29-yard completion to Kyren Lacy to boost a 55-yard touchdown drive to place LSU up 36-33. South Carolina possessed one final fracture at the win, attempting a 49-yard field goal as opportunity expired, but it missed, offering Kelly a chance to celebrate a hard-earned succeed prior to returning to his office to see film as well as yell in to a pillow.Week 3 atmosphere shiftsTrending down: Finishing all your throwsThe good updates for Michigan QB Davis Warren is every elapsed he threw in Michigan's 28-18 gain Arkansas Condition on Sunday was actually caught.The problem is, three of all of them were caught by Arkansas Condition players.So, listed here's where our company are with the defending champs: After many years revolving with a slide carousel of quarterbacks that gained their posture by finding a gold ticket under a Detroit-style pizza, the Wolverines were addressed to pair of seasons of J.J. McCarthy as well as presumed probably points had actually modified permanently. As an alternative, Warren is balancing 6.1 yards-per-pass with pair of touchdowns and six choices via three games.Now, USC performs deck following full week, and Michigan is left trying to find a solution between Warren or Alex Orji or to hope there is actually yet another QB stashed in Jim Harbaugh's left locker responsible for those containers labeled "signs for every enemy, 2020-2023." Trending up: UNLV's instance for Pac-12 expansionMatthew Sluka led an 18-play, 75-yard goal drive that chewed 9:31 off the appear the fourth quarter Friday evening, and UNLV dismayed Kansas 23-20. It was actually the Rebels' 2nd get an Electrical power 4 opponent currently this period after pouring Houston in the opener. Just how outstanding is that? Getting In Saturday, Northern Illinois' distress of Notre Dame was the only other Group of 5 gain a power event foe.Like with everything in Vegas, it is actually a little bit of skill-set as well as a bunch of luck.play0:40 UNLV somehow thinks of outrageous fumble vs. KansasMatthew Sluka screws up the sphere, but in some way UNLV preserves things after the sphere touches several Kansas gamers' hands.Still, it is actually risk-free to claim Barry Odom has the Rebels reaching the top at the correct time, along with UNLV's purchases pitch to the increasing Pac-12 currently looking pretty strong: A big market, a really good crew, and also accessibility to myriad all-night snack bars. After that all Odom requires to carry out is take that Pac-12 payment in potato chips, wager everything on dark on a single live roulette spin, double down 2 or even three even more times, and boost-- UNLV is enjoying with SEC money.Land of the increasing Sunlight DevilsA year earlier, Arizona was actually the darling of the college regulation football globe after a skylarking 10-3 time, while Arizona State was a laughing inventory pushed to start a chorus of straining quarterbacks possibly featuring a married couple individuals they discovered standing by outside a Tempe In-N-Out Burger.What a variation a year makes.Arizona waved bye-bye to head trainer Jedd Fisch, who left for Washington, as well as opened this time along with 2 ineffectual draw New Mexico and also Northern Arizona before 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 Sunlight Devils, however, located a QB in Sam Leavitt and also are using high after knocking off Texas Condition on Thursday 31-28, beginning 3-0 for the very first time due to the fact that 2019. Arizona State is the unpleasant surprise team of 2024 until now (unless you count negative surprises, which Florida Condition wishes you don't), and Dillingham's turnaround of a system left behind in ruin after the Herm Edwards age ended precisely as everybody said it will.