.David Hale, ESPN Personnel WriterSep 14, 2024, 06:14 PM ETCloseCollege volleyball reporter.Joined ESPN in 2012. Graduate of the Educational institution of Delaware.If college football were a cartoon, there would possess been an instant final December, just after the committee snubbed an undefeated Florida State crew from the playoff, when Mike Norvell would possess ended this was as negative as factors might acquire, all while unconsciously standing underneath a piano perilously being uplifted to a 20th-floor window.Of course, after Florida State fell to Norvell's past institution, Memphis, 20-12 on Saturday, it's totally achievable the Seminoles would certainly favor the piano to reality.Nine months back, Fla Condition had the world's sympathy-- at least the portion of the world that don't shout "S-E-C, S-E-C" at weddings, funerals and children's celebrations. It was simple to like that group. It was a team that battled tougher after dropping QB Jordan Travis, that provided all it had to maintain gaining, that skipped its own shot at the playoff not because of its own errors however as a result of the committee's whim.Editor's Picks1 RelatedNow, there is actually no sympathy. There is just a peculiar mix of embarassment, disappointment and also darker wit, like spilling an alcoholic beverage down the front of your pants.The recipient of the board's decision was actually Alabama, and also factors might've effortlessly moved toward a gloomy 2024 for the Trend, too. They dropped their championship game, swayed bye-bye to the best coach in the sporting activity's history, at that point observed an exodus of gamers right into the portal, consisting of five who left behind for Tallahassee.And yet, on the exact same time Florida Condition hit a new low point, Alabama flexed the very same muscular tissue it therefore usually performed under Chip Saban, annihilating Wisconsin 42-10 behind a five-touchdown functionality from Jalen Milroe.In an even more simply globe, Florida State may've made a little really good karma after the indignity of its playoff snub. In an extra fair planet, Alabama might, just when, be actually given a poor hand.But college volleyball has actually confirmed, again and again, it doesn't respect fairness, however it does have one heck of a feeling of humor.So in Madison, the Tide came to acquire down.Alabama gamers jump around during Jump Around pic.twitter.com/OytiNveT43u2014 Patrick Greenfield (@PCGreenfield) September 14, 2024 And also in Tallahassee, Florida Condition is ready to pack it up and also pack it in.For Alabama, the roster turnover simply clearance for new superstars, like fresher receiver Ryan Williams, that caught 4 balls for 78 lawns and also a touchdown in Sunday's gain. Williams is just 17-- born only seven months just before Saban coached his first game at Alabama, certainly not outdated enough to even bear in mind there was actually a time one thing like an 0-3 beginning will be inconceivable at Fla State.For FSU, there is actually no clear road onward. DJ Uiagalelei has actually been actually horrible, the ground video game has summoned little bit, the offending line that was actually intended or else be a durability obtained manhandled by a Team of 5 system, as well as the protection, which played its own finest activity Sunday, still has plenty of gaps. For the Seminoles, the only silver lining to take from this unhappy beginning to the season is it might possess lowered the plan's media valuation enough that it can easily leave the ACC for a conventional exit expense as well as some Kohl's cash.Nine months back, there might be a practical discussion about the comparison resumu00e9s of Alabama and also Florida Condition. On Sunday, during the course of industrial rests of the Trend's thumping of Wisconsin, it was actually possible to turn between ads for "9-1-1: Lone Celebrity" featuring a large train derailment as well as an FSU game including a a lot more terrible learn wreck.To witness what is actually happened Fla Condition in the time since the committee supplied its own judgment is actually tough to comprehend, a barrage of continuous anguish commonly reserved for "Observed" films or small climate issues at LAX.But it costs looking at exactly how utterly incomprehensible it is actually for Alabama to become listed here, also-- 3-0 with a roadway succeed in Big 10 country just months after Saban's exit. Alabama has been the style for sustained greatness for a production, and also consistency was actually typically credited to Saban's relentlessness. But even he reached out to an aspect through which it was actually time for something brand new, and also yet Alabama keeps on connecting throughout-- one dominant win after another, as reliable as the sunrise.None of this particular is actually verification the committee acquired its selection right, certainly. That was final time-- a various staff, a various opportunity. However it is verification that in this particular turbulent sporting activity, achievement is actually fleeting and also chance usually encounters past like a Florida Condition linebacker overlooking a deal with at free throw line of scrimmage.And also at a place like Alabama, a system that has stood up defiantly versus the winds of modification for 16 years right now, it's consistently far better to appreciate the advantages while you have all of them. Since if there is actually anything our company've picked up from watching Florida State these past nine months it's this: It may always obtain worse.Jump to: LSU survives|Ambiance shifts|Arizona's best staff The first 56 minutes of Sunday's game against South Carolina was actually far coming from positive for LSU.A set of special staffs gaffes, pair of turn overs and also some significant operates by Gamecocks QB LaNorris Sellers had the Tigers playing catchup usually. South Carolina dove out to a 24-10 top, found LSU take ahead of time temporarily in the fourth one-fourth, at that point viewed Rocket Sanders blow up for a 66-yard score.play1:20 Jumping block rejects LSU punt, sets up South Carolina TDMaurice Brown II blocks out the LSU punting, which puts together a Raheim Sanders goal to pad the Gamecocks' lead.With less than four moments to participate in, LSU trailed through four, as well as Brian Kelly had experienced all 6 stages of despair: Aggravation, indignation, animosity, temper, inquiring to speak to the supervisor and also, finally, reflecting the implementation his players.But Garrett Nussmeier used to the rescue with his 29-yard finalization to Kyren Lacy to jumpstart a 55-yard touchdown drive to put LSU up 36-33. South Carolina had one last gap at the win, seeking a 49-yard basket as time expired, however it skipped, providing Kelly a possibility to celebrate a hard-earned win just before coming back to his workplace to enjoy movie and shout right into a pillow.Week 3 feel shiftsTrending down: Finishing all your throwsThe great information for Michigan QB Davis Warren is actually every pass he included Michigan's 28-18 get Arkansas Condition on Sunday was actually caught.The trouble is, three of them were actually seen through Arkansas Condition players.So, listed here's where we are actually along with the speaking up for champs: After decades rotating through a carousel of quarterbacks who gained their position through locating a golden ticket under a Detroit-style pizza, the Wolverines were actually dealt with to 2 seasons of J.J. McCarthy and also assumed perhaps points had actually changed permanently. As an alternative, Warren is actually averaging 6.1 yards-per-pass with pair of goals and also six picks by means of three games.Now, USC gets on deck next full week, as well as Michigan is actually left trying to find a solution between Warren or even Alex Orji or even to really hope there is actually yet another QB stashed in Jim Harbaugh's left locker responsible for those packages classified "signs for every challenger, 2020-2023." Trending up: UNLV's scenario for Pac-12 expansionMatthew Sluka led an 18-play, 75-yard touchdown push that ate 9:31 off the clock in the fourth quarter Friday night, and UNLV upset Kansas 23-20. It was actually the Rebels' second get a Power 4 rival actually this period after pouring Houston in the opener. Exactly how excellent is actually that? Entering Into Sunday, Northern Illinois' upset of Notre Dame was the only other Team of 5 get a power event foe.Like with anything in Vegas, it is actually a little bit of skill and also a lot of luck.play0:40 UNLV in some way generates wild fumble vs. KansasMatthew Sluka messes up the ball, but somehow UNLV retains things after the ball styles a number of Kansas players' hands.Still, it's safe to state Barry Odom possesses the Rebels reaching the top at the right time, with UNLV's sales sound to the expanding Pac-12 right now appearing quite powerful: A significant market, a really good team, and access to myriad all-night cafeterias. Then all Odom needs to have to carry out is take that Pac-12 payment in chips, bet everything on dark on a single roulette twist, double down 2 or even 3 even more opportunities, and also upsurge-- UNLV is actually having fun with SEC money.Land of the increasing Sunshine DevilsA year ago, Arizona was actually the beloved of the university football globe after a skylarking 10-3 period, while Arizona Condition was actually a laughing sell pushed to start a chorus of straining quarterbacks probably consisting of a pair men they discovered waiting outside a Tempe In-N-Out Burger.What a distinction a year makes.Arizona swayed farewell to head train Jedd Fisch, that left behind for Washington, and opened this period along with 2 unexceptional get New Mexico as well as Northern Arizona just before being up to Kansas State 31-7 on Friday. It was actually Arizona's worst repulsive efficiency considering that being locked out at Colorado in 2021. The Sun Devils, alternatively, found a QB in Sam Leavitt and are actually using higher after desisting Texas Condition on Thursday 31-28, beginning 3-0 for the first time since 2019. Arizona Condition is the shock crew of 2024 up until now (unless you consider negative surprises, which Florida State hopes you do not), and Dillingham's turn-around of a plan left in disarray after the Herm Edwards era finished precisely as everyone mentioned it will.