.David Hale, ESPN Staff WriterSep 14, 2024, 06:14 PM ETCloseCollege football reporter.Joined ESPN in 2012. Grad of the College of Delaware.If university football were a comic strip, there would possess been actually a second last December, following the board brushed off an undefeated Fla State staff coming from the playoff, when Mike Norvell would've concluded this was as poor as traits could possibly acquire, all while unwittingly standing beneath a piano perilously being uplifted to a 20th-floor window.Of training course, after Florida Condition fell to Norvell's previous college, Memphis, 20-12 on Saturday, it's entirely achievable the Seminoles would like the piano to reality.Nine months earlier, Florida Condition had the planet's compassion-- at least the portion of the globe that do not shout "S-E-C, S-E-C" at weddings, memorial services and little ones's parties. It was quick and easy to such as that team. It was actually a team that fought more challenging after dropping QB Jordan Travis, that offered all it had to keep gaining, that skipped its own shot at the playoff not due to its very own errors however as a result of the board's whim.Editor's Picks1 RelatedNow, there is no compassion. There is simply a weird mix of shame, disappointment and dark humor, like splashing an alcoholic beverage down the front of your pants.The named beneficiary of the board's decision was Alabama, and also things might've quickly changed toward a dismal 2024 for the Trend, too. They dropped their championship game, swung farewell to the greatest instructor in the sporting activity's history, then viewed a departure of players into the portal, including 5 that left for Tallahassee.And yet, on the exact same day Fla State reached a new nadir, Alabama flexed the exact same muscle mass it thus usually performed under Scar Saban, wiping out Wisconsin 42-10 behind a five-touchdown performance from Jalen Milroe.In an extra just globe, Fla Condition may possess earned a little really good karma after the outrage of its playoff snub. In an extra reasonable world, Alabama might, just as soon as, be actually given a bad hand.But university volleyball has actually shown, over and over, it does not care about justness, however it carries out have one hell of a sense of humor.So in Madison, the Trend related to obtain down.Alabama players leap around during Dive Around pic.twitter.com/OytiNveT43u2014 Patrick Greenfield (@PCGreenfield) September 14, 2024 As well as in Tallahassee, Fla Condition prepares to stuff it up and also pack it in.For Alabama, the roster turnover only clearance for brand-new superstars, like fresher receiver Ryan Williams, that caught 4 balls for 78 yards and also a goal in Sunday's gain. Williams is only 17-- birthed simply seven months prior to Saban coached his first activity at Alabama, not old sufficient to also keep in mind there was an opportunity one thing like an 0-3 begin would be unthinkable at Fla State.For FSU, there is actually no crystal clear road ahead. DJ Uiagalelei has actually been nasty, the ground video game has summoned little bit, the offensive line that was actually intended otherwise be actually a stamina got battered by a Group of 5 course, and also the defense, which played its own greatest activity Saturday, still has plenty of gaps. For the Seminoles, the only silver lining to take from this awful start to the time is it might have decreased the system's media assessment good enough that it can get away the ACC for a common departure fee and some Kohl's cash.Nine months earlier, there might be an acceptable debate regarding the comparative resumu00e9s of Alabama and Florida State. On Sunday, during commercial rests of the Tide's thumping of Wisconsin, it was possible to turn between advertisements for "9-1-1: Lone Celebrity" including a huge learn derailment and an FSU game including an even more horrifying learn wreck.To witness what's become of Florida State in the time considering that the committee provided its own decision is actually tough to comprehend, a barrage of ceaseless anguish usually scheduled for "Saw" motion pictures or slight climate problems at LAX.But it deserves looking at just how entirely incomprehensible it is actually for Alabama to be here, also-- 3-0 with a roadway win in Big Ten country simply months after Saban's exit. Alabama has actually been the design for continual achievement for a generation, which uniformity was usually attributed to Saban's relentlessness. However even he connected with a point in which it was time for one thing brand-new, as well as yet Alabama keeps connecting along-- one dominant succeed after another, as dependable as the sunrise.None of this is verification the board received its selection straight, naturally. That was last period-- a different group, a various opportunity. But it is actually verification that in this particular chaotic sport, effectiveness is short lived as well as opportunity typically run-ins past like a Florida Condition linebacker overlooking a tackle at free throw line of scrimmage.And also at a spot like Alabama, a course that has stood defiantly versus the winds of modification for 16 years now, it is actually constantly much better to appreciate the benefits while you possess them. Due to the fact that if there's just about anything we have actually picked up from viewing Fla Condition these previous 9 months it's this: It can regularly receive worse.Jump to: LSU endures|Character shifts|Arizona's trendiest team The very first 56 minutes of Sunday's game versus South Carolina was actually far coming from positive for LSU.A set of exclusive groups gaffes, two turn overs and also some large runs by Gamecocks QB LaNorris Sellers possessed the Tigers having fun catchup usually. South Carolina jumped out to a 24-10 lead, found LSU take in advance briefly in the fourth one-fourth, then found Spacecraft Sanders explode for a 66-yard score.play1:20 Jumping block refuses LSU punting, establishes South Carolina TDMaurice Brown II blocks out the LSU punt, which sets up a Raheim Sanders goal to pad the Gamecocks' lead.With less than 4 moments to play, LSU tracked by 4, and also Brian Kelly had experienced all six stages of agony: Stress, indignation, violence, anger, asking to speak with the supervisor and also, finally, deliberating the implementation his players.But Garrett Nussmeier used to the rescue along with his 29-yard conclusion to Kyren Lacy to start a 55-yard goal ride to put LSU up 36-33. South Carolina had one last split at the gain, attempting a 49-yard field goal as time ran out, yet it overlooked, offering Kelly a possibility to celebrate a hard-earned win prior to coming back to his workplace to watch film and howl into a pillow.Week 3 character shiftsTrending down: Finishing all your throwsThe great news for Michigan QB Davis Warren is actually every elapsed he included Michigan's 28-18 draw Arkansas State on Saturday was caught.The bad news is, 3 of them were caught through Arkansas Condition players.So, right here's where our company are actually with the defending champs: After many years rotating with a slide carousel of quarterbacks who won their position by locating a gold ticket under a Detroit-style pizza, the Wolverines were actually handled to pair of times of J.J. McCarthy and also presumed perhaps traits had transformed forever. As an alternative, Warren is actually balancing 6.1 yards-per-pass along with two goals and also six picks through 3 games.Now, USC is on deck next full week, and also Michigan is left behind trying to find a solution in between Warren or even Alex Orji or to hope there is actually yet another QB stashed in Jim Harbaugh's abandoned locker behind those cartons tagged "signs for every opponent, 2020-2023." Trending up: UNLV's instance for Pac-12 expansionMatthew Sluka led an 18-play, 75-yard goal push that ate 9:31 off the appear the fourth one-fourth Friday night, and UNLV distressed Kansas 23-20. It was actually the Rebels' 2nd gain an Electrical power 4 rival currently this season after discarding Houston in the opener. Exactly how remarkable is actually that? Getting In Saturday, Northern Illinois' distress of Notre Dame was actually the only various other Group of 5 get an electrical power conference foe.Like with just about anything in Las vega, it is actually a little bit of capability as well as a ton of luck.play0:40 UNLV somehow develops crazy fumble vs. KansasMatthew Sluka stumbles the round, however in some way UNLV preserves possession after the round flairs a number of Kansas gamers' hands.Still, it is actually risk-free to state Barry Odom has the Rebels reaching the top at the right time, along with UNLV's purchases pitch to the growing Pac-12 right now looking fairly tough: A large market, a really good staff, as well as accessibility to myriad all-night snack bars. Then all Odom needs to carry out is take that Pac-12 payment in chips, wager everything on black on a solitary live roulette twist, double down pair of or 3 more opportunities, and boost-- UNLV is having fun with SEC money.Land of the climbing Sunlight DevilsA year ago, Arizona was the favorite of the university soccer planet after a skylarking 10-3 season, while Arizona State was a laughing sell required to begin a chorus of struggling quarterbacks possibly including a couple fellas they found hanging around outside a Tempe In-N-Out Burger.What a distinction a year makes.Arizona swung goodbye to head train Jedd Fisch, who left behind for Washington, and opened this period along with pair of unimpressive sway New Mexico and Northern Arizona prior to being up to Kansas Condition 31-7 on Friday. It was actually Arizona's worst offending performance since being actually shut out at Colorado in 2021. The Sunshine Devils, alternatively, found a QB in Sam Leavitt as well as are actually using high after discontinuing Texas State on Thursday 31-28, starting 3-0 for the very first time considering that 2019. Arizona State is actually the unpleasant surprise group of 2024 thus far (unless you consider negative surprises, which Fla Condition wishes you do not), and also Dillingham's turnaround of a program left in shambles after the Herm Edwards age finished precisely as every person said it would.