Sports

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

.David Hale, ESPN Team WriterSep 14, 2024, 06:14 PM ETCloseCollege football reporter.Joined ESPN in 2012. Graduate of the Educational institution of Delaware.If university football were actually an anime, there would possess been a minute last December, just after the board disregarded an unbeaten Fla State group from the playoff, when Mike Norvell would certainly've ended this was actually as poor as things could possibly receive, all while unknowingly standing underneath a piano perilously being actually raised to a 20th-floor window.Of training program, after Fla Condition was up to Norvell's past college, Memphis, 20-12 on Saturday, it is actually entirely possible the Seminoles would choose the piano to reality.Nine months back, Florida Condition had the planet's sympathy-- at the very least the component of the world that do not shout "S-E-C, S-E-C" at wedding events, memorial services and also youngsters's celebrations. It was quick and easy to such as that group. It was a group that dealt with more challenging after dropping QB Jordan Travis, that offered all it needed to maintain winning, that overlooked its chance at the playoff not because of its personal oversights yet due to the board's whim.Editor's Picks1 RelatedNow, there is no compassion. There is actually only a peculiar mix of pity, stress and darker wit, like spilling a beverage down the front of your pants.The named beneficiary of the committee's selection was actually Alabama, and also traits could possess conveniently shifted toward a dismal 2024 for the Tide, also. They dropped their playoff game, swayed bye-bye to the greatest trainer in the sporting activity's past history, after that saw an exodus of gamers in to the site, consisting of 5 that left for Tallahassee.And yet, on the very same time Fla State reached a brand new low point, Alabama flexed the very same muscle mass it so commonly carried out under Nick Saban, annihilating Wisconsin 42-10 responsible for a five-touchdown efficiency coming from Jalen Milroe.In an even more only globe, Florida Condition may've made a little bit of really good karma after the indignity of its playoff snub. In a much more reasonable world, Alabama might, just once, be actually inflicted a poor hand.But college soccer has actually verified, time and again, it doesn't care about justness, but it does possess one hell of a feeling of humor.So in Madison, the Tide concerned acquire down.Alabama gamers dive around throughout Jump Around pic.twitter.com/OytiNveT43u2014 Patrick Greenfield (@PCGreenfield) September 14, 2024 As well as in Tallahassee, Florida Condition is ready to stuff it up as well as stuff it in.For Alabama, the roster turn over merely clearance for new superstars, like freshman receiver Ryan Williams, who caught 4 receptions for 78 gardens and a touchdown in Sunday's gain. Williams is just 17-- birthed only 7 months before Saban coached his initial video game at Alabama, certainly not aged adequate to also remember there was actually an opportunity something like an 0-3 begin would be actually unthinkable at Florida State.For FSU, there's no clear pathway onward. DJ Uiagalelei has been awful, the ground game has actually mustered bit, the offensive line that was actually expected or else be actually a toughness obtained manhandled through a Group of 5 system, and the self defense, which played its greatest game Sunday, still contains openings. For the Seminoles, the only silver lining to draw from this awful begin to the time is it may possess reduced the plan's media appraisal enough that it can run away the ACC for a basic exit cost and some Kohl's cash.Nine months earlier, there could be a realistic dispute regarding the comparative resumu00e9s of Alabama and also Fla State. On Sunday, during the course of industrial breaks of the Tide's clunk of Wisconsin, it was possible to turn in between ads for "9-1-1: Lone Superstar" featuring a substantial learn derailment and also an FSU game including an even more horrifying learn wreck.To witness what is actually become of Florida State while considering that the committee supplied its judgment is actually tough to understand, a barrage of nonstop torment usually reserved for "Saw" motion pictures or minor weather issues at LAX.But it costs considering how totally incomprehensible it is for Alabama to become right here, too-- 3-0 with a road gain in Big Ten nation simply months after Saban's leave. Alabama has been the model for sustained achievement for a production, and also uniformity was actually generally credited to Saban's relentlessness. However even he reached out to a point in which it was opportunity for something new, as well as yet Alabama keeps connecting along-- one prominent win after one more, as trusted as the sunrise.None of this particular is actually evidence the board received its own decision straight, certainly. That was actually last period-- a different crew, a different time. But it is actually proof that within this turbulent sport, achievement is short lived and possibility typically encounters past like a Fla Condition linebacker missing a deal with at free throw line of scrimmage.And even at a location like Alabama, a program that has stood certainly versus the winds of change for 16 years right now, it is actually consistently much better to enjoy the good things while you have all of them. Due to the fact that if there is actually just about anything our team have actually learned from watching Fla Condition these past 9 months it's this: It can constantly get worse.Jump to: LSU makes it through|Character switches|Arizona's most popular staff The initial 56 moments of Sunday's game against South Carolina was far from pleasant for LSU.A collection of special crews gaffes, two turnovers and some significant operates by Gamecocks QB LaNorris Sellers possessed the Tigers having fun catchup commonly. South Carolina hopped bent on a 24-10 top, observed LSU draw in advance quickly in the fourth quarter, then saw Rocket Sanders blow up for a 66-yard score.play1:20 Leaping block rejects LSU punting, sets up South Carolina TDMaurice Brown II obstructs the LSU punting, which puts together a Raheim Sanders goal to pad the Gamecocks' lead.With lower than four minutes to play, LSU tracked through four, and Brian Kelly had experienced all six phases of anguish: Aggravation, indignation, violence, temper, asking to talk to the supervisor and also, ultimately, reflecting the execution his players.But Garrett Nussmeier used to the rescue along with his 29-yard finalization to Kyren Lacy to boost a 55-yard goal ride to put LSU up 36-33. South Carolina possessed one last gap at the succeed, trying a 49-yard field goal as time ran out, however it missed, giving Kelly an opportunity to celebrate a hard-earned succeed before going back to his workplace to view movie and also shriek in to a pillow.Week 3 atmosphere shiftsTrending down: Accomplishing all your throwsThe really good updates for Michigan QB Davis Warren is every successfully pass he included Michigan's 28-18 draw Arkansas State on Sunday was caught.The trouble is, 3 of them were caught by Arkansas Condition players.So, right here's where our company are with the standing up for champs: After years turning by means of a slide carousel of quarterbacks that succeeded their posture by discovering a gold ticket under a Detroit-style pizza, the Wolverines were handled to 2 periods of J.J. McCarthy and also believed probably points had actually modified once and for all. Instead, Warren is averaging 6.1 yards-per-pass along with two goals as well as 6 picks via three games.Now, USC gets on deck next week, as well as Michigan is left searching for a solution in between Warren or even Alex Orji or to hope there's one more QB stowed away in Jim Harbaugh's deserted locker responsible for those boxes identified "indicators for every single challenger, 2020-2023." Trending up: UNLV's scenario for Pac-12 expansionMatthew Sluka led an 18-play, 75-yard goal drive that ate 9:31 off the clock in the 4th quarter Friday night, and also UNLV dismayed Kansas 23-20. It was the Rebels' second sway a Power 4 opponent presently this season after discarding Houston in the opener. How remarkable is actually that? Entering Into Sunday, Northern Illinois' trouble of Notre Dame was the only other Group of 5 win over an electrical power event foe.Like with anything in Vegas, it is actually a little bit of ability and also a great deal of luck.play0:40 UNLV somehow produces crazy fumble vs. KansasMatthew Sluka stumbles the ball, but in some way UNLV maintains things after the ball styles a number of Kansas gamers' hands.Still, it is actually secure to say Barry Odom has the Rebels reaching the top at the correct time, with UNLV's sales sound to the increasing Pac-12 right now appearing rather sturdy: A large market, a really good group, and also accessibility to myriad all-night smorgasbords. At that point all Odom needs to do is actually take that Pac-12 payout in chips, bet everything on black on a single live roulette spin, double down pair of or even three additional opportunities, and boost-- UNLV is actually playing with SEC money.Land of the increasing Sun DevilsA year ago, Arizona was the darling of the college soccer world after a frisking 10-3 season, while Arizona State was actually a laughing inventory obliged to start a carolers of straining quarterbacks perhaps including a married couple people they located waiting outside a Tempe In-N-Out Burger.What a variation a year makes.Arizona waved bye-bye to head coach Jedd Fisch, who left behind for Washington, and also opened this season along with 2 ineffectual get New Mexico and also Northern Arizona before being up to Kansas State 31-7 on Friday. It was actually Arizona's worst offending performance given that being locked out at Colorado in 2021. The Sun Devils, on the other hand, located a QB in Sam Leavitt and are actually riding high after knocking off Texas State on Thursday 31-28, starting 3-0 for the first time due to the fact that 2019. Arizona State is the surprise team of 2024 up until now (unless you consider bad unpleasant surprises, which Fla Condition hopes you don't), as well as Dillingham's turnaround of a plan left behind in shambles after the Herm Edwards time ended exactly as everybody said it would.