Sports

College football Week 3 highlights - top plays, activities, takeaways

.David Hale, ESPN Personnel WriterSep 14, 2024, 06:14 PM ETCloseCollege football reporter.Joined ESPN in 2012. Grad of the College of Delaware.If college regulation football were actually an animation, there would've been a moment final December, just after the committee snubbed an unbeaten Florida State staff coming from the playoff, when Mike Norvell would certainly've concluded this was actually as bad as points might receive, all while unconsciously standing under a piano perilously being raised to a 20th-floor window.Of course, after Florida Condition fell to Norvell's past institution, Memphis, 20-12 on Saturday, it's completely achievable the Seminoles would choose the piano to reality.Nine months ago, Florida Condition possessed the globe's compassion-- at the very least the component of the globe that do not shout "S-E-C, S-E-C" at wedding celebrations, memorial services as well as kids's celebrations. It was very easy to just like that crew. It was actually a group that dealt with tougher after losing QB Jordan Travis, that gave all it must maintain succeeding, that missed its own chance at the playoff certainly not because of its personal oversights but as a result of the board's whim.Editor's Picks1 RelatedNow, there is actually no compassion. There is actually simply an unusual mix of embarassment, frustration as well as black wit, like splashing a cocktail down the front end of your pants.The recipient of the board's choice was actually Alabama, and traits might've effortlessly switched toward a bleak 2024 for the Trend, also. They shed their playoff game, swung goodbye to the best coach in the sporting activity's past, at that point observed an exodus of players in to the gateway, consisting of 5 who left behind for Tallahassee.And yet, on the exact same time Fla State reached a new low point, Alabama flexed the same muscular tissue it thus frequently did under Scar Saban, wiping out Wisconsin 42-10 behind a five-touchdown efficiency from Jalen Milroe.In a much more merely world, Fla Condition could possess earned a little bit of really good karma after the indignity of its own playoff snub. In a more decent globe, Alabama might, merely as soon as, be actually inflicted a bad hand.But university volleyball has actually shown, time and again, it does not care about justness, however it performs have one hell of a sense of humor.So in Madison, the Trend came to acquire down.Alabama players jump about throughout Dive Around pic.twitter.com/OytiNveT43u2014 Patrick Greenfield (@PCGreenfield) September 14, 2024 And in Tallahassee, Fla Condition is ready to pack it up as well as stuff it in.For Alabama, the roster turnover only clearance for brand-new celebrities, like freshman recipient Ryan Williams, who captured 4 balls for 78 yards and also a goal in Sunday's gain. Williams is actually only 17-- birthed merely 7 months before Saban coached his initial game at Alabama, not old sufficient to even don't forget there was an opportunity one thing like an 0-3 start will be inconceivable at Fla State.For FSU, there is actually no clear path forward. DJ Uiagalelei has actually been awful, the ground game has mustered little bit, the repulsive line that was intended otherwise be actually a toughness got battered through a Team of 5 plan, and also the self defense, which played its own finest activity Saturday, still hases plenty of openings. For the Seminoles, the only silver edging to take from this difficult begin to the season is it might have lowered the plan's media assessment enough that it may run away the ACC for a typical departure charge and some Kohl's cash.Nine months back, there could be a practical argument regarding the relative resumu00e9s of Alabama and also Fla State. On Sunday, during commercial breaks of the Tide's clunk of Wisconsin, it was actually achievable to flip between adds for "9-1-1: Lone Superstar" featuring a large train derailment and an FSU activity including a a lot more terrible learn wreck.To witness what is actually become of Florida State in the time given that the committee supplied its own decision is actually difficult to understand, an avalanche of unending woe usually scheduled for "Viewed" flicks or even minor climate issues at LAX.But it's worth taking into consideration exactly how completely incomprehensible it is actually for Alabama to be below, as well-- 3-0 along with a road succeed in Big 10 nation only months after Saban's departure. Alabama has actually been the version for sustained success for a production, and that uniformity was actually generally attributed to Saban's relentlessness. But even he got to a factor through which it was time for one thing brand new, and yet Alabama goes on connecting along-- one prevailing win after one more, as trusted as the sunrise.None of this particular is verification the committee acquired its decision straight, naturally. That was actually last time-- a various group, a different opportunity. But it is verification that in this chaotic sporting activity, greatness is actually short lived and also chance frequently run-ins past like a Fla Condition linebacker missing a deal with at the line of scrimmage.And even at a spot like Alabama, a plan that has stood certainly against the winds of adjustment for 16 years currently, it's regularly much better to appreciate the benefits while you have all of them. Considering that if there's anything we've learned from seeing Fla State these previous 9 months it's this: It can easily always acquire worse.Jump to: LSU endures|Character shifts|Arizona's hottest crew The first 56 mins of Saturday's video game versus South Carolina was actually far from positive for LSU.A set of exclusive groups gaffes, 2 turn overs as well as some major runs through Gamecocks QB LaNorris Sellers had the Tigers having fun catchup commonly. South Carolina hopped out to a 24-10 top, viewed LSU draw ahead quickly in the 4th one-fourth, at that point viewed Spacecraft Sanders blow up for a 66-yard score.play1:20 Jumping block denies LSU punt, establishes South Carolina TDMaurice Brown II blocks out the LSU punting, which sets up a Raheim Sanders goal to pad the Gamecocks' lead.With lower than 4 minutes to participate in, LSU trailed by four, and Brian Kelly had actually looked at all 6 stages of agony: Frustration, indignation, hostility, rage, inquiring to contact the manager as well as, lastly, reflecting the completion his players.But Garrett Nussmeier rode to the rescue along with his 29-yard fulfillment to Kyren Lacy to jumpstart a 55-yard goal drive to place LSU up 36-33. South Carolina possessed one last split at the succeed, attempting a 49-yard field goal as time expired, however it skipped, giving Kelly a chance to commemorate a hard-earned win prior to returning to his office to check out film and howl into a pillow.Week 3 vibe shiftsTrending down: Completing all your throwsThe really good headlines for Michigan QB Davis Warren is actually every successfully pass he threw in Michigan's 28-18 sway Arkansas State on Saturday was actually caught.The bad news is actually, three of all of them were actually gotten through Arkansas Condition players.So, right here's where our company are actually along with the defending champs: After many years spinning through a carousel of quarterbacks who succeeded their position through discovering a golden ticket under a Detroit-style pizza, the Wolverines were actually dealt with to pair of periods of J.J. McCarthy as well as thought maybe factors had transformed once and for all. Instead, Warren is balancing 6.1 yards-per-pass with two touchdowns as well as 6 picks with three games.Now, USC performs deck following week, as well as Michigan is left behind searching for a solution between Warren or even Alex Orji or to hope there's one more QB tucked away in Jim Harbaugh's left locker responsible for those packages tagged "signals for every rival, 2020-2023." Trending up: UNLV's instance for Pac-12 expansionMatthew Sluka led an 18-play, 75-yard touchdown push that ate 9:31 off the appear the 4th quarter Friday evening, and also UNLV dismayed Kansas 23-20. It was the Rebels' second win over an Electrical power 4 rival presently this period after ditching Houston in the opener. How outstanding is actually that? Getting In Sunday, Northern Illinois' distress of Notre Dame was the only other Team of 5 sway a power association foe.Like with just about anything in Las vega, it's a little bit of skill-set and also a considerable amount of luck.play0:40 UNLV in some way comes up with crazy fumble vs. KansasMatthew Sluka messes up the ball, but somehow UNLV retains ownership after the round styles various Kansas gamers' hands.Still, it is actually secure to mention Barry Odom possesses the Rebels reaching the top at the right time, with UNLV's sales sound to the increasing Pac-12 right now looking pretty strong: A large market, a good staff, and accessibility to myriad all-night snack bars. After that all Odom needs to have to accomplish is actually take that Pac-12 payment in potato chips, wager all of it on dark on a single live roulette spin, double down two or even three even more opportunities, and also upsurge-- UNLV is actually having fun with SEC money.Land of the increasing Sunshine DevilsA year ago, Arizona was the favorite of the university regulation football planet after a frisking 10-3 period, while Arizona Condition was actually a laughing sell pushed to begin a carolers of straining quarterbacks probably consisting of a couple fellas they located waiting outside a Tempe In-N-Out Burger.What a distinction a year makes.Arizona waved goodbye to move instructor Jedd Fisch, that left for Washington, as well as opened this season with pair of ineffectual get New Mexico and Northern Arizona just before being up to Kansas Condition 31-7 on Friday. It was actually Arizona's worst repulsive functionality because being actually locked out at Colorado in 2021. The Sunshine Devils, alternatively, discovered a QB in Sam Leavitt as well as are actually using higher after knocking off Texas State on Thursday 31-28, starting 3-0 for the first time because 2019. Arizona Condition is actually the unpleasant surprise crew of 2024 until now (unless you count bad surprises, which Florida Condition wishes you don't), as well as Dillingham's turn-around of a program left in mess after the Herm Edwards period finished precisely as everybody stated it will.