Heisman Watch: It's Prescott-Mariota at season's midpoint

The following contenders have faded from the Heisman Trophy conversation as the season reaches the midway point:

Jameis Winston. Todd Gurley. Trevor Knight. Mike Davis. Brett Hundley. Braxton Miller. Duke Johnson. Chuckie Keeton. Keenan Reynolds. Taylor Kelly. Taysom Hill.

This has left a top-heavy Heisman race without its normal depth. It's strange to consider, since we're only now entering the second half of the season, but it's become a two-person — or three, if we stretch it — race for the Heisman.

Maybe Everett Golson's in the mix, but he only sticks in the upper tier should Notre Dame upset Florida State on Saturday night. It's more about two leading contenders: Dak Prescott, who's stormed to the top of the list, and Marcus Mariota, who regained some luster by leading Oregon past UCLA.

It's nip and tuck between the pair as we enter the heart of conference play. Here are 10 leading contenders for the Heisman after Week 7 of the 2014 season:

1. QB Dak Prescott, Mississippi State (Last week's ranking: No. 3)

Prescott, like his team in both major polls, rises to the top of the Heisman list after leading the Bulldogs to their third win against top-10 competition in as many tries. This stretch of high-profile victories combines with Prescott's statistical output — very strong, if a bit sloppy at times against Auburn — to make the Mississippi State junior the Heisman leader at the midway point.

2. QB Marcus Mariota, Oregon (Last week's ranking: No. 4)

But Mariota's close behind. His path to the Heisman is simple: Mariota simply needs to maintain course through the remainder of Pac-12 play, hoping that Prescott and the Bulldogs suffer a single loss in October or November. Let's remember that Mariota has yet to throw an interception, for one, and has maintained a high level of production since the first snap of the season. You can sense another asset in his favor: Oregon's offensive line seems to have turned a corner.

3. QB Everett Golson, Notre Dame (Last week's ranking: No. 1)

Golson has been spotty in recent weeks, tossing a combined four interceptions in Notre Dame's last three games and failing to score a touchdown on the ground, though he's still been a fairly effective runner in Brian Kelly's system. Yet the Irish are still undefeated, meaning Golson is not just in the thick of things but in line for a major leap should he lead his team past Florida State on Saturday.

4. RB Ameer Abdullah, Nebraska (Last week's ranking: No. 5)

The Heisman list begins to lose some juice outside of the top three, but Abdullah needs to be viewed as a likely finalist despite his lackluster performance in the Cornhuskers' loss to Michigan State. That'll be an aberration: Abdullah will rebound to near the 2,000-yard mark when all is said and done, and if in conjunction with a 10-win regular season should keep him among the top five throughout the season.

5. QB Bryce Petty, Baylor (Last week's ranking: No. 7)

Saturday was a nice reminder of two things: one, that Baylor is a title contender, and two, that Petty is one of the best quarterbacks in college football. His 510-yard, six-touchdown performance in leading Baylor through a 21-point deficit and past TCU should help us forget Petty's early season, which was stymied and slowed by a painful back injury.

6. RB Melvin Gordon, Wisconsin (Last week's ranking: No. 8)

Each Wisconsin win brings Gordon closer and closer to the top five. The Badgers rebounded from a loss to Northwestern — despite Gordon's best efforts — to beat Illinois, moving their record to 4-2 at the midway point. The numbers are there; will Wisconsin win enough games — say, eight or nine — for Gordon to be a serious contender?

7. QB Shane Carden, ECU (Last week's ranking: No. 9)

Carden and ECU had just enough in the tank to get past upset-minded South Florida, though just-good-enough performances won't lift Carden higher on the Heisman list or continue ECU's path for a major bowl. The production has been there, however, and Carden and this offense should regain top-notch form against some of the American's weakest teams.

8. QB Bo Wallace, Mississippi (Last week's ranking: Unranked)

Well, this is interesting: Wallace is the quarterback on a title contender, a team that has exceeded expectations — just like his in-state quarterbacking peer — yet has been uneven at times, which hurts his ability to make waves in the Heisman race. He still deserves some recognition for leading the Rebels to a perfect start and, despite some fits and starts, accounting for 17 total touchdowns through six games. Another number to consider: Wallace has thrown just one interception in three SEC games.

9. QB Rakeem Cato, Marshall (Last week's ranking: Unranked)

Cato's candidacy is hurt by Carden's senior-year turn as one of the top quarterbacks in the country. His best hope is to run the table while others fall off the list — something that has happened on a weekly basis, it seems.

10. LB Shaq Thompson, Washington (Last week's ranking: Unranked)

Finally, a defensive player makes his presence felt in the Heisman race. He's a linebacker first and foremost, though Thompson has gained 84 yards and scored a touchdown as a reserve running back. Where Thompson has made waves is on defense: He's scored four defensive touchdowns, including a long fumble return in last week's win against California, and has stood as one of the elite defenders across college football.