.David Hale, ESPN Personnel WriterSep 14, 2024, 06:14 PM ETCloseCollege volleyball reporter.Joined ESPN in 2012. Grad of the College of Delaware.If university soccer were a cartoon, there will've been actually a moment final December, just after the board shunned an unbeaten Fla Condition staff coming from the playoff, when Mike Norvell will've ended this was actually as bad as factors might obtain, all while unknowingly standing up under a piano perilously being actually uplifted to a 20th-floor window.Of program, after Florida Condition fell to Norvell's previous school, Memphis, 20-12 on Saturday, it is actually entirely achievable the Seminoles would favor the piano to reality.Nine months ago, Florida Condition had the planet's compassion-- at least the portion of the planet that don't chant "S-E-C, S-E-C" at wedding ceremonies, funerals and youngsters's events. It was easy to such as that staff. It was a team that combated harder after losing QB Jordan Travis, that gave all it had to maintain succeeding, that skipped its shot at the playoff not as a result of its very own oversights but as a result of the committee's whim.Editor's Picks1 RelatedNow, there is actually no sympathy. There is simply a peculiar mix of embarassment, irritation and also dark humor, like splashing a drink down the front end of your pants.The beneficiary of the committee's decision was Alabama, and also points could possibly've easily changed towards a dismal 2024 for the Trend, as well. They shed their playoff game, waved farewell to the best trainer in the sporting activity's history, then observed an exodus of players in to the portal, including 5 that left for Tallahassee.And yet, on the same day Florida State struck a brand new low point, Alabama stretched the exact same muscle mass it therefore frequently performed under Nick Saban, annihilating Wisconsin 42-10 responsible for a five-touchdown efficiency coming from Jalen Milroe.In an extra simply globe, Fla Condition could've gained a little good karma after the outrage of its playoff snub. In a much more reasonable world, Alabama might, just once, be actually inflicted a poor hand.But college football has confirmed, repeatedly, it does not care about fairness, yet it performs have one heck of a feeling of humor.So in Madison, the Trend concerned acquire down.Alabama gamers jump around in the course of Jump Around pic.twitter.com/OytiNveT43u2014 Patrick Greenfield (@PCGreenfield) September 14, 2024 As well as in Tallahassee, Florida State is ready to stuff it up as well as stuff it in.For Alabama, the lineup turn over simply clearance for new stars, like freshman recipient Ryan Williams, that recorded 4 balls for 78 gardens and a touchdown in Saturday's succeed. Williams is simply 17-- born merely seven months just before Saban trained his very first game at Alabama, certainly not aged adequate to also remember there was an opportunity something like an 0-3 start will be actually unimaginable at Fla State.For FSU, there's no very clear path ahead. DJ Uiagalelei has actually been actually nasty, the ground game has actually collected bit, the offensive line that was actually expected otherwise be actually a strength obtained battered by a Team of 5 program, as well as the self defense, which played its own finest video game Saturday, still teems with gaps. For the Seminoles, the only silver edging to extract from this awful start to the time is it might have decreased the system's media assessment enough that it can easily get away the ACC for a conventional exit cost and also some Kohl's cash.Nine months back, there could be a reasonable discussion regarding the relative resumu00e9s of Alabama and also Fla Condition. On Sunday, during industrial breathers of the Tide's thumping of Wisconsin, it was achievable to turn in between ads for "9-1-1: Lone Celebrity" featuring a massive train derailment and an FSU video game including a a lot more horrifying train wreck.To witness what is actually become of Fla State while given that the committee supplied its decision is hard to know, a barrage of unending misery typically reserved for "Viewed" flicks or small weather issues at LAX.But it costs looking at just how entirely incomprehensible it is for Alabama to become listed here, also-- 3-0 with a road gain in Big Ten country only months after Saban's departure. Alabama has been actually the version for continual success for a production, and that consistency was commonly credited to Saban's relentlessness. But even he got to a point through which it was actually opportunity for one thing brand new, as well as however Alabama continues plugging along-- one prevailing gain after yet another, as reputable as the sunrise.None of the is evidence the board obtained its own selection right, obviously. That was last period-- a different group, a different time. However it is actually proof that in this particular chaotic sport, greatness is short lived and also chance often brushes past like a Florida Condition linebacker skipping a tackle at free throw line of scrimmage.And also at a location like Alabama, a plan that has actually stood up defiantly against the winds of change for 16 years now, it's always better to enjoy the beneficial things 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 can easily regularly acquire worse.Jump to: LSU survives|Ambiance shifts|Arizona's most popular team The initial 56 minutes of Saturday's game against South Carolina was actually far coming from positive for LSU.A set of unique staffs gaffes, two turn overs and some large operates by Gamecocks QB LaNorris Sellers had the Tigers playing catchup typically. South Carolina leapt bent on a 24-10 top, found LSU draw in advance briefly in the fourth one-fourth, after that observed Rocket Sanders take off for a 66-yard score.play1:20 Leaping block rejects LSU punt, sets up South Carolina TDMaurice Brown II obstructs the LSU punting, which establishes a Raheim Sanders touchdown to pad the Gamecocks' lead.With lower than 4 mins to participate in, LSU tracked by 4, and Brian Kelly had experienced all 6 stages of pain: Stress, indignation, animosity, rage, asking to contact the supervisor and, lastly, evaluating the execution his players.But Garrett Nussmeier used to the rescue with his 29-yard finalization to Kyren Lacy to start a 55-yard touchdown ride to place LSU up 36-33. South Carolina had one last crack at the win, trying a 49-yard basket as opportunity ran out, yet it missed, giving Kelly a possibility to commemorate a hard-earned gain just before coming back to his workplace to see film and also shout right into a pillow.Week 3 character shiftsTrending down: Finishing all your throwsThe really good information for Michigan QB Davis Warren is actually every pass he included Michigan's 28-18 sway Arkansas Condition on Sunday was caught.The trouble is, three of them were gotten by Arkansas Condition players.So, listed below's where our company are actually along with the defending champs: After years spinning through a carousel of quarterbacks that gained their placement by finding a golden ticket under a Detroit-style pizza, the Wolverines were dealt with to pair of times of J.J. McCarthy and believed probably points had actually changed forever. Rather, Warren is actually averaging 6.1 yards-per-pass with two goals and also 6 picks with 3 games.Now, USC is on deck upcoming full week, as well as Michigan is actually left behind looking for an answer in between Warren or even Alex Orji or to really hope there is actually one more QB stashed in Jim Harbaugh's deserted locker behind those containers identified "indicators for each rival, 2020-2023." Trending up: UNLV's situation 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 dismayed Kansas 23-20. It was the Rebels' 2nd get a Power 4 challenger actually this period after unloading Houston in the opener. Exactly how impressive is actually that? Getting Into Sunday, Northern Illinois' upset of Notre Dame was actually the only other Group of 5 draw an energy conference foe.Like along with anything in Vegas, it's a little bit of ability as well as a considerable amount of luck.play0:40 UNLV in some way generates wild fumble vs. KansasMatthew Sluka messes up the sphere, however in some way UNLV keeps possession after the ball touches several Kansas gamers' hands.Still, it's secure to state Barry Odom possesses the Rebels coming to a head at the correct time, with UNLV's purchases sound to the extending Pac-12 currently appearing pretty powerful: A significant market, a good team, and also accessibility to myriad all-night snack bars. Then all Odom requires to accomplish is actually take that Pac-12 payment in chips, bet it all on dark on a single live roulette spin, double down pair of or three more opportunities, as well as upsurge-- UNLV is actually enjoying with SEC money.Land of the climbing Sunshine DevilsA year back, Arizona was the beloved of the college soccer globe after a rollicking 10-3 period, while Arizona Condition was actually a laughing supply required to begin a carolers of having a hard time quarterbacks potentially featuring a couple fellas they discovered waiting outside a Tempe In-N-Out Burger.What a variation a year makes.Arizona swayed adieu to move trainer Jedd Fisch, who left for Washington, as well as opened this season along with 2 unimpressive sway New Mexico and Northern Arizona before falling to Kansas Condition 31-7 on Friday. It was Arizona's worst offending efficiency because being actually shut out at Colorado in 2021. The Sun Devils, meanwhile, found a QB in Sam Leavitt and are using high after knocking off Texas Condition on Thursday 31-28, beginning 3-0 for the very first time because 2019. Arizona State is the surprise crew of 2024 so far (unless you consider negative surprises, which Fla Condition wishes you don't), as well as Dillingham's turn-around of a program left in disarray after the Herm Edwards age finished precisely as every person stated it would certainly.