.David Hale, ESPN Staff WriterSep 14, 2024, 06:14 PM ETCloseCollege football reporter.Joined ESPN in 2012. Grad of the Educational institution of Delaware.If college regulation football were actually a cartoon, there would certainly've been a moment final December, following the board brushed off an undefeated Florida Condition group from the playoff, when Mike Norvell would've ended this was actually as negative as points could obtain, all while unknowingly standing up underneath a piano perilously being actually lifted up to a 20th-floor window.Of training course, after Florida State was up to Norvell's previous university, Memphis, 20-12 on Sunday, it is actually totally possible the Seminoles would prefer the piano to reality.Nine months earlier, Florida Condition possessed the globe's sympathy-- a minimum of the portion of the world that do not shout "S-E-C, S-E-C" at wedding celebrations, memorial services and children's celebrations. It was actually easy to like that team. It was a group that dealt with harder after losing QB Jordan Travis, that offered all it needed to always keep winning, that overlooked its own chance at the playoff certainly not due to its personal blunders but because of the committee's whim.Editor's Picks1 RelatedNow, there is no compassion. There is actually merely a weird mix of pity, aggravation and also dark humor, like spilling a drink down the face of your pants.The named beneficiary of the board's selection was Alabama, and points might've quickly changed towards a dismal 2024 for the Tide, also. They dropped their playoff game, swayed goodbye to the best coach in the sport's record, then saw an exodus of gamers right into the site, featuring five that left for Tallahassee.And yet, on the same time Fla State hit a new nadir, Alabama bent the very same muscular tissue it thus commonly carried out under Chip Saban, annihilating Wisconsin 42-10 behind a five-touchdown efficiency coming from Jalen Milroe.In a more just planet, Fla Condition might've earned a little excellent fate after the indignity of its own playoff snub. In a much more decent world, Alabama might, just the moment, be actually given a poor hand.But university football has verified, over and over, it does not care about fairness, yet it carries out have one heck of a feeling of humor.So in Madison, the Trend came to obtain down.Alabama players leap around during the course of Dive Around pic.twitter.com/OytiNveT43u2014 Patrick Greenfield (@PCGreenfield) September 14, 2024 And also in Tallahassee, Florida Condition is ready to stuff it up and load it in.For Alabama, the roster turn over only opened space for brand new stars, like freshman recipient Ryan Williams, who caught four balls for 78 gardens as well as a touchdown in Sunday's win. Williams is actually merely 17-- birthed merely 7 months just before Saban coached his initial video game at Alabama, certainly not outdated sufficient to even remember there was an opportunity something like an 0-3 beginning will be unthinkable at Florida State.For FSU, there is actually no very clear path forward. DJ Uiagalelei has actually been actually bad, the ground video game has actually summoned bit, the outrageous line that was actually intended otherwise be actually a stamina acquired battered by a Group of 5 program, and the self defense, which played its own greatest activity Saturday, still has lots of gaps. For the Seminoles, the only silver lining to derive from this miserable beginning to the time is it might have lowered the system's media valuation sufficient that it can easily leave the ACC for a standard leave charge and some Kohl's cash.Nine months ago, there could be a sensible controversy concerning the relative resumu00e9s of Alabama and Fla State. On Saturday, during industrial rests of the Trend's thumping of Wisconsin, it was actually achievable to flip in between ads for "9-1-1: Lone Superstar" including a massive train derailment and also an FSU activity featuring an even more horrifying learn wreck.To witness what is actually happened Fla State in the time given that the board provided its own judgment is actually challenging to understand, a barrage of continuous torment usually reserved for "Saw" films or slight climate issues at LAX.But it costs considering just how totally incomprehensible it is actually for Alabama to become here, as well-- 3-0 with a road succeed in Big Ten country simply months after Saban's exit. Alabama has been actually the design for continual achievement for a generation, and also consistency was usually attributed to Saban's relentlessness. But also he reached out to a factor in which it was actually opportunity for something new, and also however Alabama goes on plugging throughout-- one prevailing succeed after one more, as reliable as the sunrise.None of this particular is proof the board acquired its choice straight, obviously. That was final time-- a various team, a various time. However it is actually evidence that within this turbulent sporting activity, greatness is actually short lived and chance typically run-ins past like a Florida State linebacker missing a deal with at free throw line of scrimmage.And also at a spot like Alabama, a plan that has actually stood up defiantly versus the winds of modification for 16 years now, it is actually constantly better to cherish the advantages while you possess all of them. Considering that if there's anything our experts've learned from seeing Florida Condition these past 9 months it's this: It may consistently get worse.Jump to: LSU endures|Ambiance shifts|Arizona's trendiest team The 1st 56 minutes of Saturday's video game versus South Carolina was much coming from pleasing for LSU.A series of unique teams gaffes, 2 turnovers as well as some big operates through Gamecocks QB LaNorris Sellers had the Tigers playing catchup frequently. South Carolina hopped out to a 24-10 lead, viewed LSU pull ahead of time quickly in the 4th one-fourth, after that observed Rocket Sanders burst for a 66-yard score.play1:20 Jumping block rejects LSU punting, establishes South Carolina TDMaurice Brown II blocks the LSU punt, which puts together a Raheim Sanders touchdown to pad the Gamecocks' lead.With less than 4 moments to participate in, LSU routed by 4, as well as Brian Kelly had actually undergone all 6 stages of trouble: Disappointment, indignation, animosity, anger, inquiring to speak with the manager and, lastly, deliberating the execution his players.But Garrett Nussmeier used to the rescue along with his 29-yard conclusion to Kyren Lacy to trigger a 55-yard goal travel to put LSU up 36-33. South Carolina possessed one last split at the win, attempting a 49-yard field goal as opportunity ran out, however it missed out on, offering Kelly an opportunity to commemorate a hard-earned gain just before coming back to his workplace to view movie as well as shout in to a pillow.Week 3 ambiance shiftsTrending down: Finishing all your throwsThe great headlines for Michigan QB Davis Warren is actually every elapsed he threw in Michigan's 28-18 gain Arkansas Condition on Saturday was caught.The trouble is actually, 3 of all of them were seen through Arkansas State players.So, right here's where our experts are actually with the speaking up for champs: After many years rotating with a carousel of quarterbacks who won their position by locating a gold ticket under a Detroit-style pizza, the Wolverines were actually alleviated to 2 seasons of J.J. McCarthy and believed possibly factors had altered completely. As an alternative, Warren is balancing 6.1 yards-per-pass along with 2 goals as well as six choices by means of three games.Now, USC is on deck following week, and Michigan is left behind trying to find an answer between Warren or even Alex Orji or even to wish there is actually yet another QB stowed away in Jim Harbaugh's left storage locker responsible for those cartons tagged "signals for each opponent, 2020-2023." Trending up: UNLV's scenario for Pac-12 expansionMatthew Sluka led an 18-play, 75-yard touchdown drive that chewed 9:31 off the clock in the fourth quarter Friday evening, and also UNLV distressed Kansas 23-20. It was the Rebels' second get an Energy 4 enemy actually this period after disposing Houston in the opener. Just how impressive is that? Getting In Saturday, Northern Illinois' trouble of Notre Dame was actually the only various other Team of 5 win over a power association foe.Like with just about anything in Vegas, it's a little capability and a considerable amount of luck.play0:40 UNLV somehow generates crazy fumble vs. KansasMatthew Sluka messes up the round, yet somehow UNLV retains belongings after the round styles a number of Kansas gamers' hands.Still, it's secure to state Barry Odom has the Rebels peaking at the correct time, along with UNLV's sales pitch to the expanding Pac-12 right now looking fairly solid: A major market, a good group, and accessibility to myriad all-night cafeterias. After that all Odom requires to do is take that Pac-12 payout in chips, bet everything on black on a solitary live roulette spin, double down two or 3 additional times, as well as advancement-- UNLV is actually enjoying with SEC money.Land of the rising Sunshine DevilsA year ago, Arizona was actually the darling of the university football world after a frisking 10-3 period, while Arizona Condition was a laughing stock required to start a chorus of straining quarterbacks perhaps consisting of a couple men they located hanging around outside a Tempe In-N-Out Burger.What a difference a year makes.Arizona swayed adieu to head trainer Jedd Fisch, that left for Washington, and also opened this time along with two unimpressive gain New Mexico and also Northern Arizona before being up to Kansas State 31-7 on Friday. It was actually Arizona's worst repulsive efficiency considering that being actually locked out at Colorado in 2021. The Sunshine Devils, on the contrary, found a QB in Sam Leavitt and are riding high after eliminating Texas State on Thursday 31-28, starting 3-0 for the very first time considering that 2019. Arizona State is the surprise staff of 2024 until now (unless you count poor shocks, which Florida Condition wishes you don't), and Dillingham's turnaround of a course left behind in shambles after the Herm Edwards era ended specifically as everyone mentioned it will.