What we learned in college football in 2014

Don't bet against Florida State

The Seminoles finished another season undefeated despite being called the underdog in almost every quality matchup. Much to the disappointment of Florida State critics who argue the Atlantic Coast Conference holds no true contenders for the Seminoles, wins are still wins. Heading into the College Football Playoff semifinal match against Oregon, there is no doubt Florida State has fourth-quarter magic. Their come-from-behind wins can frustrate the most seasoned college football expert. 

Ohio State is a quarterback factory

Columbus, Ohio apparently has an unlimited supply of quarterbacks.  

The Buckeyes are College Football Playoff-bound with their third-string quarterback in tow. While this would worry most coaches, head coach Urban Meyer remains unfazed. 

The relatively green Cardale Jones, who entered the title match with just 19 throws in two seasons under his belt, silenced doubters by leading his team to a Big Ten Championship title over Wisconsin. 

Ohio State proved this season it has enough talent to compensate for unpredictable quarterback injuries. The beloved Braxton Miller suffered a season-ending shoulder injury before the year began, putting redshirt freshman J.T. Barrett in a starting position. Barrett was a force to be reckoned with, bobbing and weaving through even the most stout defensive lines. When he suffered a season-ending ankle injury against Michigan, Jones stepped up, proving Meyer knows how to pick the members of his team.   

Do not take money for autographs

Todd Gurley learned the hard way this season that money in exchange for his signature is never a good idea. 

The Georgia running back was leading the Heisman Trophy conversation, but he received a four-game suspension after it was revealed he accepted "more than $3,000 from multiple individuals for autographed memorabilia and other items over a two-year period," according to the NCAA. 

Fortunately, the Bulldogs didn't suffer in his absence. Freshman running back Nick Chubb stepped up and delivered a performance that made fans forget Georgia's offense wasn't whole.    

It pays to have a conference championship

Things were awkward when neither Baylor or TCU were included in the College Football Playoff top four. 

The Big 12 snub may have had something to do with the fact that the conference has no "One True Champion" despite its own slogan. The conference has no championship game, opting instead for a nine-game round-robin schedule that resulted in co-champions this season: the Horned Frogs and the Bears. 

This decision did not go unnoticed by the playoff committee, who disregarded the Big 12 altogether. They instead awarded the highly-coveted fourth spot to sole Big Ten champion Ohio State.   

A winning season is not enough to save your job

Bo Pelini was 66-27 during his tenure, leading Nebraska to three league championship games in the Big 12 and Big Ten. He also had a career streak of winning at least nine games every season. 

But that wasn't enough to keep the head coach with the Cornhuskers. The nail in the employment coffin seemed to be that Pelini had yet to engineer a conference title win. 

With Pelini now at Youngstown State, college football is waiting with bated breath to see if new Nebraska head coach Mike Riley is exactly what the Cornhuskers need to earn a title.