.David Hale, ESPN Personnel WriterSep 14, 2024, 06:14 PM ETCloseCollege soccer reporter.Joined ESPN in 2012. Grad of the University of Delaware.If college regulation football were a comic strip, there would certainly've been actually an instant last December, after the committee disregarded an undefeated Florida State crew from the playoff, when Mike Norvell will've ended this was actually as negative as factors can obtain, all while unwittingly standing up underneath a piano perilously being actually elevated to a 20th-floor window.Of training course, after Fla Condition fell to Norvell's previous institution, Memphis, 20-12 on Saturday, it's totally achievable the Seminoles would prefer the piano to reality.Nine months earlier, Fla Condition had the planet's compassion-- a minimum of the parts of the globe that don't shout "S-E-C, S-E-C" at wedding celebrations, funerals and also little ones's parties. It was very easy to like that crew. It was a team that battled more difficult after shedding QB Jordan Travis, that offered all it needed to maintain gaining, that missed its own shot at the playoff not due to its personal oversights however as a result of the board's whim.Editor's Picks1 RelatedNow, there is actually no compassion. There is only an unusual mix of pity, stress and also darker humor, like splashing a beverage down the front of your pants.The recipient of the committee's selection was Alabama, and also things can've easily switched toward a bleak 2024 for the Trend, as well. They dropped their playoff game, swayed bye-bye to the best coach in the sport's history, at that point viewed a departure of players in to the portal, featuring 5 that left for Tallahassee.And yet, on the exact same day Florida State hit a brand new low point, Alabama stretched the same muscle mass it thus typically carried out under Nick Saban, obliterating Wisconsin 42-10 responsible for a five-touchdown performance from Jalen Milroe.In a much more only planet, Fla State could've gained a little good karma after the indignity of its own playoff snub. In an even more decent globe, Alabama might, just the moment, be actually given a poor hand.But university football has verified, repeatedly, it does not respect fairness, yet it carries out have one hell of a sense of humor.So in Madison, the Tide came to get down.Alabama gamers jump all around during Jump Around pic.twitter.com/OytiNveT43u2014 Patrick Greenfield (@PCGreenfield) September 14, 2024 And in Tallahassee, Fla Condition prepares to pack it up as well as pack it in.For Alabama, the roster turn over simply clearance for brand-new celebrities, like freshman receiver Ryan Williams, that captured four receptions for 78 yards and a touchdown in Saturday's succeed. Williams is simply 17-- born merely seven months just before Saban coached his very first game at Alabama, not old sufficient to even bear in mind there was a time something like an 0-3 beginning will be unbelievable at Fla State.For FSU, there's no very clear course forward. DJ Uiagalelei has actually been actually bad, the ground activity has actually rounded up little, the annoying line that was meant typically be a durability acquired battered by a Team of 5 course, and the protection, which played its greatest activity Sunday, still hases plenty of gaps. For the Seminoles, the only silver lining to extract from this awful start to the time is it might possess reduced the system's media appraisal sufficient that it can escape the ACC for a standard exit charge and some Kohl's cash.Nine months ago, there may be an affordable controversy concerning the comparison resumu00e9s of Alabama as well as Fla Condition. On Sunday, in the course of office rests of the Tide's thumping of Wisconsin, it was actually feasible to flip between adds for "9-1-1: Lone Superstar" featuring a substantial train derailment and also an FSU video game featuring a much more terrible train wreck.To witness what is actually become of Florida State in the time because the committee supplied its own decision is actually hard to know, a barrage of ceaseless torment usually set aside for "Saw" films or small weather condition problems at LAX.But it's worth taking into consideration just how completely incomprehensible it is actually for Alabama to be right here, also-- 3-0 along with a roadway succeed in Big Ten country simply months after Saban's leave. Alabama has been the version for sustained achievement for a creation, which consistency was actually commonly attributed to Saban's relentlessness. Yet even he reached an aspect through which it was time for one thing new, as well as yet Alabama keeps on connecting along-- one prevailing succeed after another, as reliable as the sunrise.None of this particular is actually proof the board received its decision right, certainly. That was actually last period-- a various crew, a various time. But it is actually proof that in this particular disorderly sport, achievement is short lived and also opportunity commonly run-ins past like a Florida State linebacker overlooking a tackle at free throw line of scrimmage.And even at a spot like Alabama, a plan that has actually stood certainly versus the winds of change for 16 years right now, it's always much better to value the good things while you have them. Because if there is actually anything we've picked up from watching Florida Condition these previous nine months it's this: It can constantly get worse.Jump to: LSU endures|Vibe shifts|Arizona's trendiest staff The initial 56 minutes of Saturday's video game against South Carolina was actually far from pleasing for LSU.A set of special teams gaffes, pair of turnovers and some big runs by Gamecocks QB LaNorris Sellers possessed the Tigers playing catchup often. South Carolina leapt out to a 24-10 top, found LSU pull ahead quickly in the fourth quarter, at that point saw Rocket Sanders explode for a 66-yard score.play1:20 Leaping block refutes LSU punting, puts together South Carolina TDMaurice Brown II shuts out the LSU punting, which sets up a Raheim Sanders touchdown to pad the Gamecocks' lead.With less than four minutes to play, LSU trailed by 4, and also Brian Kelly had undergone all six stages of sorrow: Frustration, indignation, violence, anger, asking to contact the manager as well as, ultimately, contemplating the completion his players.But Garrett Nussmeier used to the rescue with his 29-yard completion to Kyren Lacy to start a 55-yard touchdown travel to place LSU up 36-33. South Carolina possessed one final split at the win, seeking a 49-yard field goal as time ran out, however it missed, giving Kelly an opportunity to celebrate a hard-earned gain prior to coming back to his workplace to view film and yell into a pillow.Week 3 vibe shiftsTrending down: Completing all your throwsThe great updates for Michigan QB Davis Warren is actually every elapsed he included Michigan's 28-18 get Arkansas State on Sunday was caught.The problem is, three of them were actually found through Arkansas Condition players.So, listed here's where our experts are with the standing up for champs: After years rotating via a carousel of quarterbacks who succeeded their setting by locating a golden ticket under a Detroit-style pizza, the Wolverines were treated to two periods of J.J. McCarthy and believed probably points had altered for good. Rather, Warren is actually averaging 6.1 yards-per-pass with 2 touchdowns as well as six choices with 3 games.Now, USC is on deck upcoming week, as well as Michigan is actually left looking for an answer in between Warren or Alex Orji or to wish there is actually yet another QB stashed in Jim Harbaugh's abandoned storage locker behind those packages designated "indicators for each opponent, 2020-2023." Trending up: UNLV's instance for Pac-12 expansionMatthew Sluka led an 18-play, 75-yard goal drive that ate 9:31 off the clock in the fourth one-fourth Friday night, and also UNLV distressed Kansas 23-20. It was actually the Rebels' 2nd sway an Electrical power 4 challenger already this period after unloading Houston in the opener. Just how impressive is that? Getting Into Sunday, Northern Illinois' upset of Notre Dame was actually the only other Team of 5 win over an energy event foe.Like with just about anything in Vegas, it's a little ability and a lot of luck.play0:40 UNLV in some way formulates wild fumble vs. KansasMatthew Sluka fumbles the ball, but in some way UNLV preserves ownership after the round styles a number of Kansas gamers' hands.Still, it's risk-free to point out Barry Odom has the Rebels coming to a head at the correct time, along with UNLV's purchases sound to the expanding Pac-12 now looking fairly solid: A large market, a good staff, and accessibility to myriad all-night snack bars. Then all Odom requires to carry out is actually take that Pac-12 payout in potato chips, bet all of it on dark on a solitary live roulette twist, double down pair of or 3 more times, as well as boost-- UNLV is playing with SEC money.Land of the increasing Sunshine DevilsA year back, Arizona was actually the beloved of the university soccer world after a frisking 10-3 period, while Arizona State was a laughing inventory forced to start a chorus of straining quarterbacks possibly consisting of a couple individuals they discovered waiting outside a Tempe In-N-Out Burger.What a variation a year makes.Arizona swung goodbye to move trainer Jedd Fisch, who left behind for Washington, and also opened this season with two unexceptional wins over New Mexico and Northern Arizona just before falling to Kansas State 31-7 on Friday. It was actually Arizona's worst annoying functionality considering that being shut out at Colorado in 2021. The Sunshine Devils, alternatively, found a QB in Sam Leavitt as well as are riding higher after desisting Texas State on Thursday 31-28, beginning 3-0 for the first time because 2019. Arizona Condition is the surprise crew of 2024 thus far (unless you consider poor shocks, which Fla State hopes you do not), and also Dillingham's turn-around of a system left behind in shambles after the Herm Edwards time ended precisely as everyone said it would.