.David Hale, ESPN Staff WriterSep 14, 2024, 06:14 PM ETCloseCollege volleyball reporter.Joined ESPN in 2012. Grad of the University of Delaware.If university soccer were actually a comic strip, there would've been a moment final December, following the committee brushed off an undefeated Fla Condition team from the playoff, when Mike Norvell would certainly've ended this was as bad as things could possibly obtain, all while unconsciously standing below a piano perilously being actually lifted up to a 20th-floor window.Of training course, after Fla State fell to Norvell's former institution, Memphis, 20-12 on Saturday, it is actually completely achievable the Seminoles will like the piano to reality.Nine months earlier, Florida Condition possessed the planet's compassion-- at least the component of the globe that don't shout "S-E-C, S-E-C" at wedding celebrations, funeral services as well as children's gatherings. It was simple to just like that staff. It was a group that fought harder after losing QB Jordan Travis, that provided all it had to keep succeeding, that missed its shot at the playoff certainly not due to its personal blunders however because of the committee's whim.Editor's Picks1 RelatedNow, there is no compassion. There is simply a peculiar mix of pity, disappointment as well as darker wit, like splashing a drink down the front of your pants.The named beneficiary of the committee's decision was actually Alabama, and also factors might've quickly switched toward a bleak 2024 for the Trend, as well. They shed their championship game, swung farewell to the greatest instructor in the sporting activity's record, after that viewed an exodus of players into the website, consisting of five that left behind for Tallahassee.And however, on the same day Florida Condition reached a brand-new low point, Alabama bent the same muscle mass it thus commonly did under Chip Saban, wiping out Wisconsin 42-10 responsible for a five-touchdown efficiency coming from Jalen Milroe.In a much more merely world, Florida Condition may possess earned a little good fate after the indignity of its playoff snub. In an extra reasonable world, Alabama might, simply the moment, be inflicted a poor hand.But university football has actually shown, time and again, it doesn't respect justness, yet it does possess one hell of a feeling of humor.So in Madison, the Tide involved get down.Alabama gamers hop about during Dive Around pic.twitter.com/OytiNveT43u2014 Patrick Greenfield (@PCGreenfield) September 14, 2024 And also in Tallahassee, Florida Condition prepares to stuff it up and also stuff it in.For Alabama, the lineup turnover simply opened space for brand-new stars, like freshman receiver Ryan Williams, that captured four receptions for 78 backyards and also a touchdown in Sunday's succeed. Williams is actually merely 17-- born simply 7 months prior to Saban trained his first game at Alabama, certainly not aged sufficient to also keep in mind there was actually a time something like an 0-3 beginning would certainly be unimaginable at Florida State.For FSU, there's no very clear path forward. DJ Uiagalelei has actually been actually terrible, the ground game has mustered bit, the objectionable line that was actually intended otherwise be a toughness acquired battered through a Team of 5 program, as well as the self defense, which played its own absolute best game Sunday, still has plenty of gaps. For the Seminoles, the only silver edging to draw from this awful begin to the season is it may have reduced the course's media assessment good enough that it may escape the ACC for a standard leave expense as well as some Kohl's cash.Nine months back, there can be an acceptable argument regarding the comparative resumu00e9s of Alabama and also Florida Condition. On Sunday, during commercial breathers of the Tide's thumping of Wisconsin, it was actually possible to flip in between ads for "9-1-1: Lone Superstar" featuring a large learn derailment and also an FSU game including a a lot more terrible learn wreck.To witness what's happened Fla State in the time given that the committee delivered its own verdict is challenging to comprehend, a barrage of continuous suffering usually reserved for "Found" movies or small weather condition problems at LAX.But it deserves taking into consideration just how totally incomprehensible it is for Alabama to be listed below, also-- 3-0 with a roadway win in Big Ten country just months after Saban's departure. Alabama has been the style for continual achievement for a production, which consistency was actually commonly attributed to Saban's relentlessness. However even he connected with a point in which it was opportunity for one thing brand-new, as well as however Alabama keeps on connecting throughout-- one prevailing win after one more, as dependable as the sunrise.None of this is verification the committee obtained its choice right, obviously. That was final period-- a different staff, a various opportunity. But it is proof that in this particular chaotic sport, greatness is actually fleeting and also chance usually encounters past like a Florida State linebacker missing out on a handle at free throw line of scrimmage.And even at a location like Alabama, a program that has stood up certainly against the winds of adjustment for 16 years right now, it's regularly far better to enjoy the beneficial things while you have all of them. Because if there's just about anything our team have actually picked up from checking out Fla State these past 9 months it's this: It can easily always get worse.Jump to: LSU makes it through|Vibe shifts|Arizona's best group The first 56 minutes of Sunday's activity versus South Carolina was far from enjoyable for LSU.A set of special staffs gaffes, two turnovers and also some significant operates by Gamecocks QB LaNorris Sellers had the Tigers playing catchup frequently. South Carolina hopped out to a 24-10 lead, found LSU take ahead of time briefly in the fourth one-fourth, after that viewed Rocket Sanders explode for a 66-yard score.play1:20 Jumping block rejects LSU punting, sets up South Carolina TDMaurice Brown II shuts out the LSU punt, which establishes a Raheim Sanders goal to pad the Gamecocks' lead.With less than 4 moments to participate in, LSU trailed through four, and Brian Kelly had undergone all 6 phases of trouble: Stress, indignation, violence, anger, inquiring to talk with the manager as well as, eventually, contemplating the completion his players.But Garrett Nussmeier used to the rescue along with his 29-yard conclusion to Kyren Lacy to jumpstart a 55-yard goal ride to put LSU up 36-33. South Carolina possessed one last crack at the win, trying a 49-yard field goal as time expired, yet it skipped, giving Kelly an odds to commemorate a hard-earned win just before returning to his workplace to view film and shriek in to a pillow.Week 3 atmosphere shiftsTrending down: Accomplishing all your throwsThe really good information for Michigan QB Davis Warren is every elapsed he threw in Michigan's 28-18 win over Arkansas Condition on Saturday was actually caught.The problem is actually, three of them were caught through Arkansas State players.So, here's where we are actually with the defending champs: After many years rotating through a carousel of quarterbacks who gained their posture through discovering a gold ticket under a Detroit-style pizza, the Wolverines were treated to two times of J.J. McCarthy and also presumed maybe points had transformed once and for all. Instead, Warren is averaging 6.1 yards-per-pass with two touchdowns as well as 6 choices through 3 games.Now, USC is on deck following week, and also Michigan is actually left behind looking for an answer between Warren or even Alex Orji or even to really hope there is actually another QB tucked away in Jim Harbaugh's left locker behind those boxes classified "signals 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 appear the fourth quarter Friday evening, and also UNLV distressed Kansas 23-20. It was actually the Rebels' 2nd gain a Power 4 rival presently this time after unloading Houston in the opener. Just how impressive is actually that? Getting Into Saturday, Northern Illinois' distress of Notre Dame was the only other Team of 5 draw a power conference foe.Like with anything in Vegas, it's a little bit of skill-set and also a ton of luck.play0:40 UNLV somehow formulates outrageous fumble vs. KansasMatthew Sluka messes up the round, yet in some way UNLV preserves things after the sphere styles multiple Kansas gamers' hands.Still, it is actually secure to state Barry Odom possesses the Rebels coming to a head at the right time, along with UNLV's sales sound to the expanding Pac-12 now looking rather powerful: A big market, a great team, and accessibility to myriad all-night smorgasbords. At that point all Odom needs to have to carry out is actually take that Pac-12 payout in potato chips, bet everything on dark on a singular live roulette twist, double down pair of or even three additional opportunities, and boom-- UNLV is enjoying with SEC money.Land of the rising Sunlight DevilsA year back, Arizona was actually the darling of the university regulation football world after a frisking 10-3 period, while Arizona State was a laughing sell obliged to begin a carolers of struggling quarterbacks potentially including a married couple fellas they found hanging around outside a Tempe In-N-Out Burger.What a variation a year makes.Arizona swayed adieu to head coach Jedd Fisch, that left for Washington, as well as opened this period with pair of unexceptional wins over New Mexico and Northern Arizona before being up to Kansas Condition 31-7 on Friday. It was actually Arizona's worst offensive performance due to the fact that being shut out at Colorado in 2021. The Sunshine Devils, on the contrary, discovered a QB in Sam Leavitt and also are using higher after eliminating Texas Condition on Thursday 31-28, beginning 3-0 for the very first time because 2019. Arizona State is actually the shock staff of 2024 so far (unless you consider negative shocks, which Florida Condition wishes you don't), as well as Dillingham's turn-around of a system left in ruin after the Herm Edwards period finished exactly as everyone stated it will.