.David Hale, ESPN Personnel WriterSep 14, 2024, 06:14 PM ETCloseCollege soccer reporter.Joined ESPN in 2012. Grad of the Educational institution of Delaware.If college football were actually a comic strip, there would've been actually an instant final December, following the board brushed off an unbeaten Florida Condition group from the playoff, when Mike Norvell would've concluded this was actually as bad as traits might get, all while unwittingly standing below a piano perilously being elevated to a 20th-floor window.Of training program, after Fla Condition was up to Norvell's previous university, Memphis, 20-12 on Saturday, it is actually totally possible the Seminoles would certainly prefer the piano to reality.Nine months back, Florida State possessed the planet's sympathy-- at the very least the component of the world that do not shout "S-E-C, S-E-C" at weddings, funeral services and also little ones's parties. It was quick and easy to just like that group. It was a team that battled more challenging after shedding QB Jordan Travis, that offered all it needed to always keep winning, that skipped its shot at the playoff certainly not due to its very own errors yet as a result of the board's whim.Editor's Picks1 RelatedNow, there is actually no sympathy. There is actually only a weird mix of pity, disappointment and also darker wit, like splashing an alcoholic beverage down the face of your pants.The named beneficiary of the board's choice was actually Alabama, as well as points could possibly possess conveniently changed toward a hopeless 2024 for the Trend, as well. They shed their championship game, waved goodbye to the greatest coach in the sporting activity's history, after that saw an exodus of gamers into the site, consisting of 5 that left for Tallahassee.And yet, on the exact same time Florida Condition struck a brand-new nadir, Alabama stretched the very same muscular tissue it therefore typically performed under Chip Saban, obliterating Wisconsin 42-10 responsible for a five-touchdown functionality from Jalen Milroe.In a much more just globe, Florida State could've made a little bit of really good aura after the outrage of its own playoff snub. In a much more decent planet, Alabama might, only when, be actually inflicted a bad hand.But college volleyball has verified, again and again, it does not appreciate fairness, however it performs possess one heck of a sense of humor.So in Madison, the Tide pertained to acquire down.Alabama gamers jump around during Dive Around pic.twitter.com/OytiNveT43u2014 Patrick Greenfield (@PCGreenfield) September 14, 2024 And also in Tallahassee, Fla Condition prepares to stuff it up and also load it in.For Alabama, the roster turn over merely clearance for brand new celebrities, like fresher receiver Ryan Williams, that captured four receptions for 78 backyards as well as a goal in Saturday's win. Williams is simply 17-- birthed only 7 months just before Saban trained his very first game at Alabama, not old sufficient to even keep in mind there was an opportunity one thing like an 0-3 start will be inconceivable at Florida State.For FSU, there's no very clear path ahead. DJ Uiagalelei has actually been actually awful, the ground video game has actually collected little, the offensive line that was actually supposed or else be a durability obtained battered by a Group of 5 program, and the defense, which played its absolute best activity Sunday, still teems with holes. For the Seminoles, the only silver edging to extract from this awful begin to the time is it may have lowered the plan's media evaluation good enough that it can easily escape the ACC for a standard exit fee as well as some Kohl's cash.Nine months back, there may be a realistic controversy about the relative resumu00e9s of Alabama and also Fla Condition. On Sunday, in the course of office breathers of the Trend's thumping of Wisconsin, it was actually feasible to turn between ads for "9-1-1: Lone Superstar" including a massive learn derailment as well as an FSU game featuring an even more scary learn wreck.To witness what is actually happened Fla State while considering that the committee delivered its judgment is actually difficult to comprehend, an avalanche of continuous misery commonly reserved for "Observed" motion pictures or slight weather condition problems at LAX.But it's worth thinking about exactly how utterly incomprehensible it is for Alabama to become listed below, too-- 3-0 with a roadway succeed in Big Ten nation just months after Saban's exit. Alabama has been actually the style for sustained greatness for a production, which uniformity was actually commonly attributed to Saban's relentlessness. Yet also he reached a factor in which it was actually opportunity for something brand new, and but Alabama keeps on connecting along-- one prevailing win after yet another, as reliable as the sunrise.None of the is actually proof the board acquired its choice right, obviously. That was final period-- a various staff, a various opportunity. However it is actually verification that within this chaotic sport, greatness is short lived and also chance commonly encounters past like a Fla State linebacker missing a tackle at the line of scrimmage.And also at an area like Alabama, a system that has stood certainly versus the winds of improvement for 16 years right now, it's constantly better to value the benefits while you possess all of them. Due to the fact that if there is actually just about anything our team have actually gained from enjoying Fla Condition these past nine months it's this: It can easily always get worse.Jump to: LSU endures|Ambiance shifts|Arizona's hottest staff The 1st 56 moments of Saturday's video game versus South Carolina was far coming from pleasurable for LSU.A collection of special teams gaffes, 2 turnovers and also some huge runs through Gamecocks QB LaNorris Sellers possessed the Tigers playing catchup usually. South Carolina hopped bent on a 24-10 lead, viewed LSU pull ahead of time quickly in the 4th quarter, at that point found Spacecraft Sanders burst for a 66-yard score.play1:20 Jumping block refutes LSU punting, puts together South Carolina TDMaurice Brown II blocks out the LSU punting, which establishes a Raheim Sanders touchdown to pad the Gamecocks' lead.With lower than 4 minutes to play, LSU routed through 4, as well as Brian Kelly had gone through all six phases of pain: Irritation, indignation, animosity, temper, inquiring to speak with the manager and, eventually, speculating the implementation his players.But Garrett Nussmeier rode to the saving with his 29-yard finalization to Kyren Lacy to trigger a 55-yard touchdown drive to place LSU up 36-33. South Carolina possessed one last fracture at the succeed, seeking a 49-yard basket as time expired, yet it missed out on, offering Kelly a possibility to celebrate a hard-earned gain just before coming back to his workplace to check out movie as well as howl in to a pillow.Week 3 character shiftsTrending down: Completing all your throwsThe great updates for Michigan QB Davis Warren is actually every elapsed he threw in Michigan's 28-18 get Arkansas Condition on Saturday was caught.The trouble is, 3 of all of them were actually gotten through Arkansas Condition players.So, right here's where our team are actually along with the defending champs: After many years turning by means of a carousel of quarterbacks that succeeded their posture by locating a golden ticket under a Detroit-style pizza, the Wolverines were handled to two periods of J.J. McCarthy and also presumed maybe points had altered for good. Instead, Warren is balancing 6.1 yards-per-pass along with pair of goals and also 6 choices with 3 games.Now, USC performs deck next full week, and also Michigan is actually left behind searching for a solution between Warren or Alex Orji or even to hope there's an additional QB stashed in Jim Harbaugh's left storage locker behind those packages tagged "signals for every enemy, 2020-2023." Trending up: UNLV's situation for Pac-12 expansionMatthew Sluka led an 18-play, 75-yard goal push that chewed 9:31 off the appear the 4th one-fourth Friday night, and UNLV dismayed Kansas 23-20. It was the Rebels' 2nd get an Energy 4 rival already this time after disposing Houston in the opener. How impressive is that? Entering Sunday, Northern Illinois' upset of Notre Dame was actually the only other Team of 5 win over an electrical power event foe.Like with everything in Vegas, it's a little bit of capability as well as a lot of luck.play0:40 UNLV in some way produces wild fumble vs. KansasMatthew Sluka screws up the sphere, but in some way UNLV maintains things after the round styles multiple Kansas players' hands.Still, it's secure to point out Barry Odom has the Rebels peaking at the right time, with UNLV's sales pitch to the increasing Pac-12 now looking pretty strong: A large market, a good staff, as well as accessibility to myriad all-night buffets. After that all Odom needs to carry out is actually take that Pac-12 payout in chips, bet all of it on dark on a single live roulette twist, double down 2 or three more times, and also upsurge-- UNLV is enjoying with SEC money.Land of the increasing Sunlight DevilsA year ago, Arizona was the beloved of the college regulation football world after a rollicking 10-3 season, while Arizona State was a laughing inventory required to begin a carolers of straining quarterbacks potentially consisting of a married couple guys they found hanging around outside a Tempe In-N-Out Burger.What a distinction a year makes.Arizona swung farewell to head train Jedd Fisch, that left behind for Washington, as well as opened this time with pair of unexceptional sway New Mexico as well as Northern Arizona just before being up to Kansas Condition 31-7 on Friday. It was Arizona's worst objectionable performance since being locked out at Colorado in 2021. The Sunlight Devils, alternatively, found a QB in Sam Leavitt as well as are using higher after eliminating Texas State on Thursday 31-28, starting 3-0 for the very first time because 2019. Arizona Condition is actually the shock staff of 2024 until now (unless you count bad surprises, which Fla State wishes you do not), and also Dillingham's turn-around of a course left behind in disarray after the Herm Edwards era finished exactly as everyone said it would certainly.