.David Hale, ESPN Team WriterSep 14, 2024, 06:14 PM ETCloseCollege volleyball reporter.Joined ESPN in 2012. Grad of the Educational institution of Delaware.If university regulation football were a comic strip, there would possess been actually a minute final December, just after the committee snubbed an unbeaten Florida Condition group from the playoff, when Mike Norvell would possess concluded this was actually as negative as factors might acquire, all while unwittingly standing up underneath a piano perilously being actually lifted up to a 20th-floor window.Of training program, after Fla State was up to Norvell's previous institution, Memphis, 20-12 on Saturday, it is actually completely possible the Seminoles would prefer the piano to reality.Nine months back, Florida State possessed the world's compassion-- at least the component of the globe that don't chant "S-E-C, S-E-C" at wedding events, memorial services and also little ones's events. It was actually quick and easy to just like that staff. It was actually a team that dealt with more difficult after shedding QB Jordan Travis, that provided all it needed to keep winning, that overlooked its chance at the playoff certainly not due to its own mistakes yet because of the committee's whim.Editor's Picks1 RelatedNow, there is actually no sympathy. There is actually just an unusual mix of embarassment, disappointment and also darker humor, like spilling a cocktail down the face of your pants.The named beneficiary of the board's decision was actually Alabama, and points could've simply switched towards a bleak 2024 for the Trend, as well. They shed their playoff game, waved bye-bye to the best trainer in the sport's history, then viewed a departure of players into the gateway, consisting of 5 that left behind for Tallahassee.And yet, on the exact same time Fla Condition hit a brand new nadir, Alabama stretched the very same muscle mass it thus commonly carried out under Nick Saban, annihilating Wisconsin 42-10 responsible for a five-touchdown efficiency from Jalen Milroe.In a much more just planet, Fla State might possess gained a little really good aura after the outrage of its own playoff snub. In an even more decent planet, Alabama might, just as soon as, be actually inflicted a negative hand.But university football has proven, over and over, it does not appreciate justness, but it carries out have one hell of a sense of humor.So in Madison, the Tide concerned receive down.Alabama players hop about during Jump Around pic.twitter.com/OytiNveT43u2014 Patrick Greenfield (@PCGreenfield) September 14, 2024 And in Tallahassee, Florida Condition prepares to load it up and also load it in.For Alabama, the lineup turn over only clearance for brand-new superstars, like freshman recipient Ryan Williams, who captured 4 balls for 78 gardens as well as a goal in Sunday's succeed. Williams is actually just 17-- born simply 7 months before Saban trained his 1st video game at Alabama, not old adequate to even remember there was actually an opportunity one thing like an 0-3 begin will be unbelievable at Fla State.For FSU, there's no very clear path forward. DJ Uiagalelei has actually been actually awful, the ground activity has actually collected little bit, the annoying line that was actually intended otherwise be actually a durability obtained manhandled through a Team of 5 system, and the self defense, which played its own best game Saturday, still is full of openings. For the Seminoles, the only silver edging to take from this awful begin to the time is it might possess lowered the program's media assessment sufficient that it can leave the ACC for a typical departure cost and also some Kohl's cash.Nine months back, there might be a sensible dispute regarding the comparison resumu00e9s of Alabama and also Fla State. On Sunday, during the course of industrial breathers of the Tide's clunk of Wisconsin, it was actually feasible to flip in between adds for "9-1-1: Lone Star" including a huge learn derailment as well as an FSU activity featuring an even more scary learn wreck.To witness what's become of Fla Condition in the time considering that the board supplied its judgment is hard to comprehend, an avalanche of unending anguish generally reserved for "Viewed" films or small weather condition problems at LAX.But it deserves considering just how absolutely incomprehensible it is actually for Alabama to be right here, as well-- 3-0 with a street gain in Big Ten nation simply months after Saban's departure. Alabama has been actually the version for continual success for a generation, and also uniformity was normally credited to Saban's relentlessness. But even he got to an aspect in which it was time for one thing new, and also but Alabama keeps on connecting throughout-- one dominant gain after one more, as trusted as the sunrise.None of this particular is evidence the board got its own decision straight, obviously. That was actually final season-- a various team, a different opportunity. However it is actually verification that within this disorderly sporting activity, success is short lived as well as chance typically run-ins past like a Fla State linebacker skipping a tackle at the line of scrimmage.And also at a location like Alabama, a plan that has stood up defiantly against the winds of adjustment for 16 years currently, it is actually consistently far better to appreciate the good things while you have all of them. Considering that if there's anything our experts've gained from watching Fla Condition these past nine months it's this: It can easily consistently obtain worse.Jump to: LSU survives|Vibe switches|Arizona's hottest team The initial 56 mins of Saturday's game against South Carolina was much from positive for LSU.A collection of exclusive crews gaffes, pair of turn overs as well as some major operates by Gamecocks QB LaNorris Sellers had the Tigers having fun catchup usually. South Carolina hopped bent on a 24-10 lead, found LSU take in advance quickly in the fourth quarter, then viewed Spacecraft Sanders take off for a 66-yard score.play1:20 Jumping block refuses LSU punt, puts together South Carolina TDMaurice Brown II shuts out the LSU punt, which establishes a Raheim Sanders touchdown to pad the Gamecocks' lead.With less than four mins to play, LSU routed by 4, and Brian Kelly had experienced all 6 stages of agony: Disappointment, indignation, violence, rage, inquiring to talk to the manager and also, ultimately, contemplating the completion his players.But Garrett Nussmeier rode to the saving with his 29-yard fulfillment to Kyren Lacy to start a 55-yard touchdown travel to put LSU up 36-33. South Carolina possessed one final split at the gain, attempting a 49-yard basket as time ended, yet it missed out on, providing Kelly an opportunity to celebrate a hard-earned gain before going back to his workplace to see movie as well as scream in to a pillow.Week 3 ambiance shiftsTrending down: Completing all your throwsThe great updates for Michigan QB Davis Warren is every pass he included Michigan's 28-18 sway Arkansas State on Saturday was caught.The bad news is actually, three of them were actually caught through Arkansas State players.So, below's where our team are along with the standing up for champs: After years turning through a carousel of quarterbacks that gained their placement through locating a gold ticket under a Detroit-style pizza, the Wolverines were dealt with to pair of seasons of J.J. McCarthy and presumed maybe things had actually modified for good. As an alternative, Warren is actually balancing 6.1 yards-per-pass with pair of touchdowns and also six choices through 3 games.Now, USC is on deck upcoming week, as well as Michigan is actually left trying to find a response in between Warren or even Alex Orji or to wish there is actually an additional QB tucked away in Jim Harbaugh's left storage locker behind those containers designated "signals for each opponent, 2020-2023." Trending up: UNLV's case for Pac-12 expansionMatthew Sluka led an 18-play, 75-yard touchdown push that ate 9:31 off the appear the 4th one-fourth Friday evening, and also UNLV upset Kansas 23-20. It was the Rebels' 2nd draw an Energy 4 challenger presently this season after ditching Houston in the opener. How impressive is actually that? Going Into Saturday, Northern Illinois' upset of Notre Dame was the only various other Group of 5 sway an electrical power association foe.Like along with everything in Vegas, it's a little bit of skill-set as well as a great deal of luck.play0:40 UNLV somehow develops outrageous fumble vs. KansasMatthew Sluka fumbles the round, however somehow UNLV keeps property after the round styles various Kansas players' hands.Still, it is actually secure to say Barry Odom possesses the Rebels topping at the correct time, along with UNLV's sales sound to the increasing Pac-12 right now appearing pretty strong: A large market, a great team, and also access to myriad all-night buffets. After that all Odom requires to accomplish is take that Pac-12 payment in chips, wager all of it on dark on a solitary live roulette spin, double down 2 or even 3 even more opportunities, as well as advancement-- UNLV is actually enjoying with SEC money.Land of the climbing Sunshine DevilsA year back, Arizona was actually the darling of the university regulation football world after a skylarking 10-3 period, while Arizona Condition was a laughing inventory compelled to start a carolers of straining quarterbacks probably including a married couple people they found standing by outside a Tempe In-N-Out Burger.What a distinction a year makes.Arizona swung adieu to move coach Jedd Fisch, that left for Washington, as well as opened this period with two unexceptional sway New Mexico and also Northern Arizona before falling to Kansas State 31-7 on Friday. It was Arizona's worst offending functionality due to the fact that being actually locked out at Colorado in 2021. The Sunlight Devils, however, found a QB in Sam Leavitt and are actually riding higher after discontinuing Texas Condition on Thursday 31-28, starting 3-0 for the very first time given that 2019. Arizona Condition is the shock staff of 2024 so far (unless you count negative surprises, which Fla State wishes you do not), as well as Dillingham's turnaround of a system left in shambles after the Herm Edwards era ended specifically as everybody said it would.