Nothing Happens after Champ Select

Starting just 2 days ago, after champion select is over, when the game should launch... NOTHING! Literally nothing happens! No loading screen opens...etc. The launcher gets minimized, and that's it. When I click it, i see "You have a left a game in progress. Please reconnect to the game." What?! No! I didn't LEAVE, I was never even brought INTO the game in the first place!!!

After it happened 2 days ago, I tried again today thinking it was just a temporary bug. NOPE! Not only did I have to type "I agree" to how everyone hates AFKers, but now, tried to start a game and... NOTHING!

I've restarted EVERYTHING from my computer to LoL to my router. I've disabled EVERYTHING including chat, voice, virus protection...etc. I've completed the "repair" thing in LoL itself per some other online recommendations and still... NOTHING!

So - now I'm faced with a bug-inducing ban likely for being a "Leaver" for a few games, even though it never even launched in the first place! I hate AFKers/Leavers as much as anyone, and never go AFK even on games where it's a no-win situation and we try to surrender but don't..etc. I'm the guy that will ALWAYS stay in and try to win unless the team agrees to surrender.

So now what?... I guess a ban won't really matter if I can't play the game anyway, but it's really frustrating that all of a sudden once this new AFK system goes into place, there are also bugs introduced that keep you from playing in the first place AND mark you as a "LEAVER" for even TRYING to play..

/endrant