.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 an animation, there will possess been a minute final December, following the committee brushed off an undefeated Florida Condition crew from the playoff, when Mike Norvell would possess ended this was actually as poor as traits can get, all while unconsciously standing up underneath a piano perilously being actually raised to a 20th-floor window.Of program, after Fla Condition fell to Norvell's former institution, Memphis, 20-12 on Saturday, it is actually entirely achievable the Seminoles would prefer the piano to reality.Nine months back, Florida Condition had the planet's compassion-- at least the parts of the globe that don't chant "S-E-C, S-E-C" at wedding ceremonies, funeral services and also kids's parties. It was actually simple to as if that group. It was a group that combated more difficult after dropping QB Jordan Travis, that offered all it needed to keep gaining, that skipped its own chance at the playoff not due to its personal errors however as a result of the committee's whim.Editor's Picks1 RelatedNow, there is no sympathy. There is simply a weird mix of shame, disappointment and dark wit, like splashing a beverage down the front end of your pants.The named beneficiary of the board's choice was Alabama, as well as things could possess effortlessly changed toward a hopeless 2024 for the Tide, as well. They shed their championship game, swayed bye-bye to the greatest instructor in the sporting activity's background, at that point found an exodus of players into the portal, consisting of five that left behind for Tallahassee.And however, on the exact same day Florida Condition struck a brand new nadir, Alabama flexed the same muscular tissue it so commonly carried out under Nick Saban, obliterating Wisconsin 42-10 responsible for a five-touchdown functionality coming from Jalen Milroe.In a more only world, Fla State may've gained a little bit of really good aura after the outrage of its playoff snub. In an extra reasonable globe, Alabama might, merely as soon as, be inflicted a bad hand.But university football has shown, again and again, it doesn't love fairness, yet it performs have one heck of a sense of humor.So in Madison, the Trend pertained to obtain down.Alabama gamers hop around throughout Jump Around pic.twitter.com/OytiNveT43u2014 Patrick Greenfield (@PCGreenfield) September 14, 2024 As well as in Tallahassee, Florida State prepares to load it up and stuff it in.For Alabama, the roster turnover just opened space for brand new celebrities, like freshman recipient Ryan Williams, that caught 4 balls for 78 gardens and a goal in Saturday's gain. Williams is only 17-- birthed merely 7 months just before Saban trained his 1st game at Alabama, certainly not aged adequate to also remember there was an opportunity one thing like an 0-3 beginning would certainly be actually unbelievable at Florida State.For FSU, there's no crystal clear road ahead. DJ Uiagalelei has been actually nasty, the ground game has actually rounded up bit, the outrageous line that was expected otherwise be actually a durability obtained battered by a Group of 5 system, as well as the protection, which played its greatest game Sunday, still hases plenty of holes. For the Seminoles, the only silver lining to take from this unpleasant beginning to the period is it might possess lowered the program's media assessment sufficient that it may get away the ACC for a typical leave fee as well as some Kohl's cash.Nine months earlier, there might be an affordable discussion concerning the comparison resumu00e9s of Alabama as well as Fla Condition. On Saturday, in the course of business breathers of the Tide's clunk of Wisconsin, it was actually feasible to flip between adds for "9-1-1: Lone Star" including an enormous learn derailment as well as an FSU activity including an even more horrible learn wreck.To witness what's become of Fla Condition in the time because the committee delivered its own judgment is actually challenging to understand, a barrage of unending misery usually reserved for "Observed" flicks or even minor weather issues at LAX.But it's worth looking at just how entirely incomprehensible it is actually for Alabama to become here, too-- 3-0 with a roadway succeed in Big 10 country simply months after Saban's leave. Alabama has been the model for sustained greatness for a creation, and that congruity was usually attributed to Saban's relentlessness. But even he reached an aspect through which it was actually opportunity for one thing brand-new, and also yet Alabama continues plugging throughout-- one prominent win after another, as trustworthy as the sunrise.None of the is actually proof the board got its decision straight, certainly. That was actually final time-- a various group, a various time. However it is actually evidence that in this turbulent sporting activity, effectiveness is actually short lived as well as possibility commonly encounters past like a Florida State linebacker missing out on a handle at free throw line of scrimmage.And also at a location like Alabama, a system that has actually stood up certainly against the winds of adjustment for 16 years right now, it is actually constantly much better to enjoy the good ideas while you have them. Because if there's everything our team have actually learned from seeing Florida State these past nine months it's this: It can consistently obtain worse.Jump to: LSU survives|Ambiance changes|Arizona's best group The first 56 mins of Saturday's activity versus South Carolina was actually much coming from positive for LSU.A series of exclusive staffs gaffes, pair of turnovers and some significant operates through Gamecocks QB LaNorris Sellers had the Tigers playing catchup typically. South Carolina leapt bent on a 24-10 lead, saw LSU take ahead temporarily in the fourth quarter, after that observed Spacecraft Sanders burst for a 66-yard score.play1:20 Leaping block refutes LSU punt, sets up South Carolina TDMaurice Brown II obstructs the LSU punting, which establishes a Raheim Sanders touchdown to pad the Gamecocks' lead.With lower than four moments to play, LSU tracked through four, as well as Brian Kelly had undergone all six stages of pain: Aggravation, indignation, hostility, rage, inquiring to speak with the manager as well as, finally, pondering the execution his players.But Garrett Nussmeier rode to the rescue along with his 29-yard finalization to Kyren Lacy to jumpstart a 55-yard goal ride to place LSU up 36-33. South Carolina had one last crack at the gain, trying a 49-yard field goal as time expired, yet it skipped, giving Kelly an odds to commemorate a hard-earned win before returning to his office to check out movie and shriek in to a pillow.Week 3 atmosphere shiftsTrending down: Accomplishing all your throwsThe great headlines for Michigan QB Davis Warren is every successfully pass he included Michigan's 28-18 get Arkansas Condition on Saturday was actually caught.The bad news is actually, 3 of them were actually seen through Arkansas State players.So, listed below's where we are actually along with the speaking up for champs: After many years spinning through a carousel of quarterbacks who succeeded their position through locating a golden ticket under a Detroit-style pizza, the Wolverines were treated to pair of times of J.J. McCarthy and also believed possibly factors had actually modified for good. Rather, Warren is balancing 6.1 yards-per-pass along with 2 touchdowns as well as 6 choices via 3 games.Now, USC performs deck next week, and Michigan is left looking for a response in between Warren or Alex Orji or even to really hope there's yet another QB tucked away in Jim Harbaugh's deserted locker behind those boxes labeled "signs for each challenger, 2020-2023." Trending up: UNLV's case for Pac-12 expansionMatthew Sluka led an 18-play, 75-yard touchdown push that chewed 9:31 off the clock in the fourth quarter Friday evening, and UNLV upset Kansas 23-20. It was the Rebels' second win over a Power 4 challenger presently this season after pouring Houston in the opener. Just how excellent is that? Going Into Saturday, Northern Illinois' distress of Notre Dame was actually the only other Team of 5 sway a power conference foe.Like with everything in Vegas, it's a little ability and a bunch of luck.play0:40 UNLV in some way formulates wild fumble vs. KansasMatthew Sluka stumbles the sphere, yet in some way UNLV maintains belongings after the ball touches several Kansas gamers' hands.Still, it is actually risk-free to mention Barry Odom possesses the Rebels coming to a head at the correct time, with UNLV's purchases sound to the increasing Pac-12 right now looking rather powerful: A large market, an excellent group, and also accessibility to myriad all-night cafeterias. After that all Odom requires to carry out is take that Pac-12 payment in potato chips, bet everything on dark on a singular roulette twist, double down pair of or 3 even more times, as well as upsurge-- UNLV is enjoying with SEC money.Land of the climbing Sunshine DevilsA year earlier, Arizona was actually the darling of the university football planet after a frisking 10-3 period, while Arizona State was a laughing inventory required to start a chorus of having a hard time quarterbacks probably consisting of a couple individuals they discovered standing by outside a Tempe In-N-Out Burger.What a variation a year makes.Arizona swayed goodbye to head trainer Jedd Fisch, that left for Washington, and also opened this season along with 2 unexceptional gain New Mexico and also Northern Arizona just before falling to Kansas Condition 31-7 on Friday. It was actually Arizona's worst offending functionality due to the fact that being actually shut out at Colorado in 2021. The Sunshine Devils, meanwhile, discovered a QB in Sam Leavitt and also are actually riding high after desisting Texas Condition on Thursday 31-28, beginning 3-0 for the very first time given that 2019. Arizona Condition is actually the unpleasant surprise group of 2024 until now (unless you consider poor unpleasant surprises, which Florida Condition wishes you don't), as well as Dillingham's turnaround of a program left behind in shambles after the Herm Edwards era ended precisely as every person claimed it will.