Sports

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

.David Hale, ESPN Team WriterSep 14, 2024, 06:14 PM ETCloseCollege volleyball reporter.Joined ESPN in 2012. Grad of the University of Delaware.If college football were an anime, there would certainly possess been an instant last December, just after the board disregarded an undefeated Florida Condition group coming from the playoff, when Mike Norvell will possess concluded this was actually as negative as things can obtain, all while unconsciously standing up beneath a piano perilously being elevated to a 20th-floor window.Of program, after Florida State fell to Norvell's previous school, Memphis, 20-12 on Sunday, it's totally possible the Seminoles will choose the piano to reality.Nine months back, Florida Condition had the world's compassion-- at the very least the aspect of the globe that don't shout "S-E-C, S-E-C" at wedding ceremonies, funerals and youngsters's parties. It was actually quick and easy to just like that crew. It was a group that combated harder after shedding QB Jordan Travis, that offered all it needed to maintain gaining, that skipped its own shot at the playoff not due to its personal oversights however as a result of the board's whim.Editor's Picks1 RelatedNow, there is actually no compassion. There is only a weird mix of shame, stress and also dark humor, like spilling a drink down the front end of your pants.The beneficiary of the board's selection was Alabama, as well as points could possibly've simply moved towards a dismal 2024 for the Trend, too. They shed their playoff game, waved bye-bye to the best instructor in the sporting activity's past history, after that observed a departure of players right into the portal, consisting of 5 that left for Tallahassee.And however, on the exact same time Florida State struck a brand new low point, Alabama bent the exact same muscular tissue it therefore often carried out under Chip Saban, wiping out Wisconsin 42-10 behind a five-touchdown efficiency coming from Jalen Milroe.In a much more simply world, Fla State might possess earned a little bit of excellent fate after the indignity of its own playoff snub. In a more decent planet, Alabama might, only the moment, be given a poor hand.But college soccer has actually confirmed, time and again, it does not care about justness, but it does possess one hell of a feeling of humor.So in Madison, the Tide pertained to acquire down.Alabama players leap all around throughout Jump Around pic.twitter.com/OytiNveT43u2014 Patrick Greenfield (@PCGreenfield) September 14, 2024 And also in Tallahassee, Fla Condition prepares to stuff it up and pack it in.For Alabama, the lineup turn over merely clearance for brand-new stars, like fresher receiver Ryan Williams, that recorded four receptions for 78 lawns and a touchdown in Saturday's gain. Williams is merely 17-- birthed only 7 months before Saban coached his first game at Alabama, not old sufficient to also don't forget there was actually an opportunity one thing like an 0-3 begin would be unbelievable at Florida State.For FSU, there's no clear pathway ahead. DJ Uiagalelei has been actually horrible, the ground video game has actually summoned bit, the offending line that was intended otherwise be actually a durability got manhandled by a Group of 5 plan, as well as the protection, which played its own absolute best video game Sunday, still has lots of openings. For the Seminoles, the only silver edging to extract from this unpleasant start to the time is it may possess lowered the plan's media valuation enough that it can leave the ACC for a common leave charge and some Kohl's cash.Nine months back, there could be an affordable argument concerning the relative resumu00e9s of Alabama and Fla State. On Sunday, during industrial rests of the Trend's thumping of Wisconsin, it was actually achievable to flip in between advertisements for "9-1-1: Lone Superstar" including an extensive learn derailment as well as an FSU game including a much more horrible train wreck.To witness what is actually become of Florida State while considering that the board delivered its decision is actually hard to comprehend, an avalanche of continuous anguish usually set aside for "Observed" flicks or slight weather problems at LAX.But it costs thinking about just how absolutely incomprehensible it is actually for Alabama to become below, too-- 3-0 with a street gain in Big Ten nation simply months after Saban's leave. Alabama has actually been actually the design for continual success for a production, which consistency was commonly credited to Saban's relentlessness. But also he reached out to an aspect through which it was opportunity for something new, as well as yet Alabama keeps on plugging throughout-- one prevailing win after one more, as dependable as the sunrise.None of this is actually proof the committee received its own choice straight, certainly. That was final season-- a various group, a different opportunity. But it is proof that within this turbulent sporting activity, greatness is short lived and option commonly encounters past like a Fla Condition linebacker overlooking an address at free throw line of scrimmage.And also at a spot like Alabama, a course that has actually stood up certainly versus the winds of improvement for 16 years now, it is actually always far better to appreciate the benefits while you possess them. Because if there's just about anything our experts've learned from enjoying Florida State these past 9 months it's this: It may constantly receive worse.Jump to: LSU survives|Atmosphere shifts|Arizona's trendiest team The first 56 moments of Saturday's video game against South Carolina was much from enjoyable for LSU.A set of exclusive staffs gaffes, pair of turn overs and some large runs through Gamecocks QB LaNorris Sellers possessed the Tigers playing catchup frequently. South Carolina jumped bent on a 24-10 lead, found LSU take ahead of time briefly in the fourth quarter, then viewed Spacecraft Sanders blow up for a 66-yard score.play1:20 Leaping block denies LSU punting, sets up South Carolina TDMaurice Brown II blocks the LSU punt, which sets up a Raheim Sanders goal to pad the Gamecocks' lead.With lower than four minutes to play, LSU trailed through 4, and Brian Kelly had actually undergone all six phases of pain: Irritation, indignation, hostility, rage, asking to speak to the manager and, eventually, deliberating the execution his players.But Garrett Nussmeier rode to the rescue with his 29-yard completion to Kyren Lacy to trigger a 55-yard touchdown ride to place LSU up 36-33. South Carolina had one final split at the succeed, seeking a 49-yard field goal as time ended, yet it missed, offering Kelly a chance to commemorate a hard-earned succeed before going back to his office to see movie as well as shriek right into a pillow.Week 3 atmosphere shiftsTrending down: Finishing all your throwsThe really good updates for Michigan QB Davis Warren is actually every elapsed he included Michigan's 28-18 sway Arkansas Condition on Saturday was actually caught.The problem is actually, 3 of all of them were actually found by Arkansas State players.So, below's where our team are actually along with the defending champs: After years rotating through a slide carousel of quarterbacks that succeeded their position through discovering a gold ticket under a Detroit-style pizza, the Wolverines were actually handled to pair of times of J.J. McCarthy and thought possibly things had changed for good. As an alternative, Warren is actually averaging 6.1 yards-per-pass with 2 goals as well as six picks by means of 3 games.Now, USC is on deck following week, and Michigan is left behind looking for a solution in between Warren or even Alex Orji or even to really hope there is actually an additional QB stowed away in Jim Harbaugh's left locker responsible for those containers designated "signs 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 4th quarter Friday night, and UNLV distressed Kansas 23-20. It was actually the Rebels' second win over an Energy 4 enemy currently this period after disposing Houston in the opener. How exceptional is that? Getting Into Saturday, Northern Illinois' trouble of Notre Dame was actually the only various other Team of 5 draw a power conference foe.Like along with everything in Vegas, it's a little skill and a ton of luck.play0:40 UNLV in some way generates crazy fumble vs. KansasMatthew Sluka fumbles the ball, yet in some way UNLV preserves possession after the round flairs multiple Kansas players' hands.Still, it's risk-free to claim Barry Odom possesses the Rebels peaking at the correct time, along with UNLV's purchases sound to the extending Pac-12 now appearing pretty powerful: A major market, an excellent staff, and also access to myriad all-night smorgasbords. After that all Odom requires to do is take that Pac-12 payment in potato chips, bet everything on black on a single live roulette twist, double down pair of or even 3 additional opportunities, as well as boom-- UNLV is playing with SEC money.Land of the increasing Sunlight DevilsA year back, Arizona was actually the favorite of the university regulation football planet after a skylarking 10-3 season, while Arizona Condition was a laughing sell required to begin a carolers of struggling quarterbacks potentially including a couple guys they found waiting outside a Tempe In-N-Out Burger.What a difference a year makes.Arizona waved adieu to head instructor Jedd Fisch, that left behind for Washington, and also opened this period along with 2 ineffectual draw New Mexico as well as Northern Arizona before being up to Kansas Condition 31-7 on Friday. It was Arizona's worst outrageous performance given that being shut out at Colorado in 2021. The Sunshine Devils, however, located a QB in Sam Leavitt and also are using high after discontinuing Texas Condition on Thursday 31-28, beginning 3-0 for the very first time due to the fact that 2019. Arizona State is actually the shock crew of 2024 until now (unless you consider bad surprises, which Florida State hopes you do not), and Dillingham's turn-around of a course left in wreckage after the Herm Edwards age finished precisely as everybody claimed it will.