.David Hale, ESPN Staff WriterSep 14, 2024, 06:14 PM ETCloseCollege soccer reporter.Joined ESPN in 2012. Graduate of the University of Delaware.If university football were actually a comic strip, there will've been actually a moment last December, following the board brushed off an undefeated Fla Condition staff from the playoff, when Mike Norvell would certainly possess ended this was as bad as factors can receive, all while unwittingly standing up below a piano perilously being actually lifted up to a 20th-floor window.Of training course, after Florida Condition fell to Norvell's previous college, Memphis, 20-12 on Sunday, it's totally feasible the Seminoles would like the piano to reality.Nine months earlier, Florida State had the planet's compassion-- at the very least the parts of the world that do not shout "S-E-C, S-E-C" at wedding events, memorial services and children's events. It was actually very easy to such as that team. It was a team that dealt with harder after dropping QB Jordan Travis, that provided all it had to always keep succeeding, that missed its chance at the playoff not because of its own errors but because of the board's whim.Editor's Picks1 RelatedNow, there is actually no sympathy. There is simply a peculiar mix of embarassment, frustration as well as dark humor, like splashing a drink down the front of your pants.The recipient of the board's decision was actually Alabama, and also factors might possess easily switched toward a dismal 2024 for the Tide, too. They dropped their playoff game, swayed farewell to the greatest coach in the sport's background, after that observed an exodus of gamers into the website, including 5 who left behind for Tallahassee.And however, on the very same day Florida Condition hit a new nadir, Alabama stretched the very same muscle mass it so usually performed under Scar Saban, annihilating Wisconsin 42-10 behind a five-touchdown functionality from Jalen Milroe.In a much more just planet, Florida State could've made a little bit of good aura after the indignity of its playoff snub. In a more fair planet, Alabama might, only the moment, be given a bad hand.But university soccer has shown, repeatedly, it doesn't appreciate fairness, but it carries out possess one heck of a sense of humor.So in Madison, the Trend concerned acquire down.Alabama players dive all around during the course of Jump Around pic.twitter.com/OytiNveT43u2014 Patrick Greenfield (@PCGreenfield) September 14, 2024 And in Tallahassee, Fla Condition is ready to stuff it up and also load it in.For Alabama, the roster turnover merely clearance for brand new celebrities, like freshman receiver Ryan Williams, who recorded four balls for 78 gardens and also a touchdown in Saturday's gain. Williams is merely 17-- birthed merely 7 months prior to Saban coached his first game at Alabama, certainly not aged sufficient to even always remember there was a time one thing like an 0-3 begin would certainly be actually unimaginable at Fla State.For FSU, there's no very clear road onward. DJ Uiagalelei has been terrible, the ground activity has mustered up bit, the offensive line that was actually intended or else be actually a strength acquired battered by a Team of 5 plan, as well as the protection, which played its greatest video game Sunday, still is full of holes. For the Seminoles, the only silver edging to take from this miserable beginning to the season is it may possess decreased the program's media assessment sufficient that it may escape the ACC for a common leave expense and also some Kohl's cash.Nine months ago, there can be an acceptable debate regarding the comparison resumu00e9s of Alabama as well as Florida State. On Sunday, during the course of business breaks of the Tide's thumping of Wisconsin, it was actually achievable to turn between adds for "9-1-1: Lone Celebrity" including an extensive learn derailment and an FSU game including a much more horrifying train wreck.To witness what is actually happened Florida Condition in the time since the committee supplied its own judgment is tough to understand, an avalanche of unending agony normally reserved for "Saw" movies or even small weather condition concerns at LAX.But it's worth thinking about exactly how completely incomprehensible it is actually for Alabama to be here, also-- 3-0 along with a roadway succeed in Big 10 country simply months after Saban's leave. Alabama has actually been the style for continual effectiveness for a generation, which congruity was usually credited to Saban's relentlessness. However even he reached an aspect in which it was actually opportunity for one thing new, as well as but Alabama goes on connecting along-- one prominent succeed after yet another, as trustworthy as the sunrise.None of this is actually evidence the committee got its choice straight, naturally. That was last season-- a different crew, a different opportunity. But it is actually evidence that within this chaotic sporting activity, effectiveness is actually short lived and also opportunity often encounters past like a Fla State linebacker missing a take on at free throw line of scrimmage.And also at an area like Alabama, a program that has stood up certainly versus the winds of change for 16 years now, it's constantly much better to appreciate the advantages while you possess all of them. Given that if there is actually anything we've gained from enjoying Florida Condition these past 9 months it's this: It can consistently obtain worse.Jump to: LSU endures|Character changes|Arizona's hottest staff The first 56 minutes of Sunday's activity versus South Carolina was much from pleasant for LSU.A series of special groups gaffes, 2 turnovers as well as some major runs through Gamecocks QB LaNorris Sellers had the Tigers playing catchup often. South Carolina hopped bent on a 24-10 top, viewed LSU take in advance briefly in the fourth quarter, then found Spacecraft Sanders blow up for a 66-yard score.play1:20 Leaping block refutes LSU punting, establishes South Carolina TDMaurice Brown II blocks the LSU punting, which sets up a Raheim Sanders goal to pad the Gamecocks' lead.With less than 4 mins to play, LSU trailed through 4, and Brian Kelly had looked at all 6 stages of despair: Stress, indignation, hostility, temper, asking to talk with the manager and, ultimately, reflecting the completion his players.But Garrett Nussmeier used to the rescue along with his 29-yard fulfillment to Kyren Lacy to boost a 55-yard goal travel to put LSU up 36-33. South Carolina had one final gap at the gain, seeking a 49-yard field goal as opportunity expired, however it missed, offering Kelly an odds to commemorate a hard-earned gain before going back to his workplace to view movie and also shout 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 threw in Michigan's 28-18 draw Arkansas Condition on Saturday was caught.The problem is, three of them were actually caught by Arkansas State players.So, here's where our company are actually along with the defending champs: After years spinning through a slide carousel of quarterbacks that won their position through locating a golden ticket under a Detroit-style pizza, the Wolverines were actually alleviated to two times of J.J. McCarthy as well as assumed probably points had transformed completely. Rather, Warren is balancing 6.1 yards-per-pass with pair of goals and also six selections via 3 games.Now, USC is on deck upcoming full week, and Michigan is left behind searching for a response in between Warren or Alex Orji or to wish there's another QB tucked away in Jim Harbaugh's abandoned locker behind those cartons identified "indicators for every single challenger, 2020-2023." Trending up: UNLV's scenario for Pac-12 expansionMatthew Sluka led an 18-play, 75-yard goal drive that chewed 9:31 off the appear the 4th quarter Friday night, and also UNLV upset Kansas 23-20. It was actually the Rebels' second get an Energy 4 opponent already this time after dumping Houston in the opener. How remarkable is actually that? Getting Into Saturday, Northern Illinois' upset of Notre Dame was actually the only various other Team of 5 get an energy event foe.Like with just about anything in Las vega, it's a little bit of skill and also a great deal of luck.play0:40 UNLV somehow generates wild fumble vs. KansasMatthew Sluka screws up the ball, but in some way UNLV keeps ownership after the ball touches various Kansas gamers' hands.Still, it is actually safe to point out Barry Odom has the Rebels reaching the top at the right time, along with UNLV's sales pitch to the extending Pac-12 right now looking rather powerful: A significant market, a good group, as well as accessibility to myriad all-night buffets. Then all Odom requires to perform is take that Pac-12 payment in chips, wager all of it on dark on a singular roulette spin, double down 2 or even three even more opportunities, and also boost-- UNLV is actually having fun with SEC money.Land of the increasing Sunlight DevilsA year back, Arizona was the beloved of the college football planet after a rollicking 10-3 time, while Arizona State was a laughing supply required to begin a chorus of battling quarterbacks possibly including a couple individuals they found waiting outside a Tempe In-N-Out Burger.What a difference a year makes.Arizona waved bye-bye to move trainer Jedd Fisch, that left for Washington, as well as opened this period along with 2 unimpressive get New Mexico and also Northern Arizona prior to falling to Kansas Condition 31-7 on Friday. It was Arizona's worst objectionable efficiency given that being actually locked out at Colorado in 2021. The Sunshine Devils, on the other hand, located a QB in Sam Leavitt and also are actually riding high after knocking off Texas Condition on Thursday 31-28, starting 3-0 for the very first time due to the fact that 2019. Arizona Condition is actually the surprise group of 2024 until now (unless you consider bad shocks, which Florida Condition wishes you do not), as well as Dillingham's turn-around of a system left in ruin after the Herm Edwards time ended exactly as everyone stated it would certainly.