.David Hale, ESPN Team WriterSep 14, 2024, 06:14 PM ETCloseCollege volleyball reporter.Joined ESPN in 2012. Graduate of the College of Delaware.If university football were actually an anime, there will've been an instant last December, just after the board brushed off an unbeaten Fla Condition group coming from the playoff, when Mike Norvell will possess concluded this was as negative as traits could receive, all while unknowingly standing beneath a piano perilously being lifted up to a 20th-floor window.Of training course, after Florida State was up to Norvell's previous school, Memphis, 20-12 on Sunday, it's completely achievable the Seminoles would choose the piano to reality.Nine months ago, Fla State had the planet's sympathy-- a minimum of the aspect of the globe that don't shout "S-E-C, S-E-C" at wedding celebrations, memorial services and also children's events. It was simple to as if that crew. It was a group that combated tougher after losing QB Jordan Travis, that offered all it must keep gaining, that missed its chance at the playoff certainly not due to its own blunders however because of the committee's whim.Editor's Picks1 RelatedNow, there is actually no sympathy. There is only a peculiar mix of pity, disappointment and dark wit, like splashing a cocktail down the front end of your pants.The named beneficiary of the committee's selection was actually Alabama, and things could possibly possess easily shifted toward a bleak 2024 for the Tide, also. They shed their playoff game, swung goodbye to the best coach in the sporting activity's record, then saw a departure of players into the site, including five who left for Tallahassee.And yet, on the very same day Fla Condition hit a new nadir, Alabama flexed the same muscle mass it so commonly carried out under Scar Saban, annihilating Wisconsin 42-10 responsible for a five-touchdown functionality coming from Jalen Milroe.In a much more only globe, Fla State may've gotten a little bit of excellent aura after the indignity of its playoff snub. In an extra reasonable globe, Alabama might, only once, be actually given a bad hand.But university soccer has actually shown, time and again, it does not care about justness, however it carries out possess one heck of a sense of humor.So in Madison, the Trend came to acquire down.Alabama gamers hop about during the course of Dive Around pic.twitter.com/OytiNveT43u2014 Patrick Greenfield (@PCGreenfield) September 14, 2024 And in Tallahassee, Florida Condition prepares to stuff it up and stuff it in.For Alabama, the lineup turnover merely clearance for new celebrities, like freshman receiver Ryan Williams, who recorded four receptions for 78 gardens and a goal in Sunday's win. Williams is actually merely 17-- birthed simply 7 months just before Saban coached his 1st game at Alabama, certainly not old enough to even keep in mind there was actually a time something like an 0-3 begin will be actually unthinkable at Fla State.For FSU, there is actually no clear road onward. DJ Uiagalelei has actually been bad, the ground activity has mustered little, the annoying line that was intended otherwise be a toughness acquired manhandled by a Team of 5 program, and also the self defense, which played its own ideal video game Sunday, still teems with holes. For the Seminoles, the only silver edging to derive from this miserable begin to the time is it may have reduced the system's media appraisal good enough that it can escape the ACC for a regular departure cost and also some Kohl's cash.Nine months back, there may be a practical dispute concerning the comparison resumu00e9s of Alabama and Fla State. On Saturday, during the course of office rests of the Trend's clunk of Wisconsin, it was achievable to turn between ads for "9-1-1: Lone Star" including a substantial learn derailment and also an FSU video game including an even more scary learn wreck.To witness what's happened Fla State while due to the fact that the board provided its own decision is actually tough to comprehend, a barrage of ceaseless torment usually booked for "Saw" motion pictures or even slight weather issues at LAX.But it deserves considering just how entirely incomprehensible it is for Alabama to be listed below, as well-- 3-0 with a roadway gain in Big 10 nation simply months after Saban's departure. Alabama has been the design for continual greatness for a generation, which uniformity was generally attributed to Saban's relentlessness. Yet also he reached out to a factor in which it was time for something brand-new, as well as but Alabama goes on connecting along-- one prominent win after another, as dependable as the sunrise.None of this is evidence the board received its choice right, of course. That was actually final time-- a different team, a various time. But it is actually proof that within this disorderly sporting activity, effectiveness is short lived and also possibility commonly run-ins past like a Fla State linebacker overlooking a tackle at the line of scrimmage.And also at an area like Alabama, a course that has actually stood up defiantly versus the winds of improvement for 16 years right now, it's constantly much better to enjoy the good things while you possess them. Because if there's everything our team've learned from watching Florida Condition these previous nine months it's this: It can easily consistently receive worse.Jump to: LSU endures|Atmosphere changes|Arizona's trendiest team The first 56 mins of Saturday's activity versus South Carolina was actually far coming from enjoyable for LSU.A collection of exclusive crews gaffes, two turn overs and also some significant operates through Gamecocks QB LaNorris Sellers had the Tigers playing catchup typically. South Carolina leapt bent on a 24-10 top, viewed LSU draw ahead temporarily in the 4th quarter, then observed Rocket Sanders burst for a 66-yard score.play1:20 Leaping block rejects LSU punting, sets up South Carolina TDMaurice Brown II shuts out the LSU punt, which establishes a Raheim Sanders touchdown to pad the Gamecocks' lead.With lower than four mins to participate in, LSU trailed by 4, and also Brian Kelly had experienced all 6 stages of despair: Disappointment, indignation, animosity, rage, asking to talk with the manager and, lastly, deliberating the completion his players.But Garrett Nussmeier rode to the rescue with his 29-yard completion to Kyren Lacy to jumpstart a 55-yard goal drive to place LSU up 36-33. South Carolina possessed one last gap at the gain, trying a 49-yard basket as time expired, however it missed, offering Kelly an odds to celebrate a hard-earned gain just before returning to his workplace to see movie and also shriek in to a pillow.Week 3 vibe shiftsTrending down: Finishing all your throwsThe great news for Michigan QB Davis Warren is every successfully pass he included Michigan's 28-18 draw Arkansas State on Sunday was actually caught.The bad news is actually, 3 of them were actually found through Arkansas Condition players.So, here's where our experts are actually with the standing up for champs: After decades turning by means of a slide carousel of quarterbacks who won their placement by locating a gold ticket under a Detroit-style pizza, the Wolverines were handled to pair of seasons of J.J. McCarthy and assumed possibly points had actually transformed for good. As an alternative, Warren is averaging 6.1 yards-per-pass along with pair of goals and 6 picks through three games.Now, USC performs deck following week, and also Michigan is left behind trying to find a response in between Warren or Alex Orji or to wish there's yet another QB stowed away in Jim Harbaugh's deserted storage locker responsible for those containers tagged "signs for each opponent, 2020-2023." Trending up: UNLV's case for Pac-12 expansionMatthew Sluka led an 18-play, 75-yard goal push that ate 9:31 off the clock in the fourth quarter Friday evening, as well as UNLV upset Kansas 23-20. It was actually the Rebels' 2nd get a Power 4 opponent presently this season after dumping Houston in the opener. Just how outstanding is actually that? Getting In Saturday, Northern Illinois' distress of Notre Dame was actually the only various other Team of 5 draw an electrical power association foe.Like with anything in Las vega, it's a little skill-set as well as a lot of luck.play0:40 UNLV in some way comes up with crazy fumble vs. KansasMatthew Sluka fumbles the sphere, but somehow UNLV retains ownership after the round styles numerous Kansas gamers' hands.Still, it's risk-free to say Barry Odom has the Rebels coming to a head at the correct time, along with UNLV's purchases pitch to the expanding Pac-12 now appearing rather strong: A large market, a great group, and also access to myriad all-night buffets. At that point all Odom needs to perform is actually take that Pac-12 payout in potato chips, wager it all on black on a single live roulette twist, double down two or three more opportunities, as well as boost-- UNLV is actually having fun with SEC money.Land of the rising Sunshine DevilsA year earlier, Arizona was actually the darling of the college regulation football globe after a rollicking 10-3 time, while Arizona Condition was a laughing stock obliged to begin a carolers of having a hard time quarterbacks probably including a married couple people they found standing by outside a Tempe In-N-Out Burger.What a difference a year makes.Arizona waved goodbye to head trainer Jedd Fisch, who left behind for Washington, and also opened this season with 2 unexceptional get New Mexico as well as Northern Arizona prior to being up to Kansas State 31-7 on Friday. It was actually Arizona's worst offending functionality since being actually shut out at Colorado in 2021. The Sunshine Devils, however, found a QB in Sam Leavitt and also are actually riding high after discontinuing Texas Condition on Thursday 31-28, beginning 3-0 for the very first time because 2019. Arizona State is actually the surprise team of 2024 up until now (unless you count negative surprises, which Florida State wishes you do not), and Dillingham's turn-around of a plan left behind in wreckage after the Herm Edwards time ended precisely as everyone claimed it will.