1. Marcus Mariota, Junior, Quarterback, University of Oregon: 2541 passing yards, 26 passing touchdowns, 2 interceptions, 68 completion percentage, 410 rushing yards, 7 rushing touchdowns

Mariota snapped the "Stanford Curse" in Saturday’s 45-16 thrashing of the Cardinal. The Hawaiian Heisman leader threw for 258 yards and two passing touchdowns to go along with 85 yards rushing and two more touchdowns on the ground. The Ducks face a stingy Utah defense this week and if Mariota escapes unscathed he appears poised to win the first Heisman Trophy in University of Oregon history.

2. Dak Prescott, Junior, Quarterback, Mississippi State University: 2025 passing yards, 16 passing touchdowns, 7 interceptions, 61 completion percentage, 725 rushing yards, 10 rushing touchdowns

Prescott has not been sharp recently and that continued in the Bulldogs’ nail-biting 17-10 victory over Arkansas. Prescott threw for a career high 331 yards, but also tossed two more interceptions, giving him five in his last three games. Prescott has the opportunity to take hold of the Heisman race with games against Alabama and Ole Miss in Mississippi State’s two out of their last three games, but they could also serve as a reality check that Prescott is not the elite quarterback that many had pegged him as.

3. Melvin Gordon, Junior, Running Back, University of Wisconsin: 1296 rushing yards, 18 rushing touchdowns, 7.5 yards per carry

Gordon has been as consistent as any player in college football this season. The Badgers’ workhorse enjoyed his sixth straight 100-yard rushing game against an overmatched Rutgers defense. Gordon is second nationally this season with 162 rushing yards per game, and is stating his case as one of the best running backs in college football history.

SEE MORE: Don't Forget About Cody Kessler

4. Amari Cooper, Junior, Wide Receiver, University of Alabama: 71 receptions, 1132 receiving yards, 9 receiving touchdowns

Cooper has been unstoppable in Alabama’s last two games, catching 17 catches for 364 yards and four touchdowns. An unstoppable force in Cooper will face off this week against an immovable object—LSU’s staunch pass defense—in an SEC clash of two powerhouses. Things are really starting to get interesting in college football’s most competitive division—the SEC West.

5. Trevone Boykin, Junior, Quarterback, Texas Christian University: 2472 passing yards, 22 touchdowns, 4 interceptions, 57 completion percentage, 423 rushing yards, 4 touchdowns

TCU’s offensive conductor has flown under the radar for the majority of the season, but last week’s gutsy win over West Virginia in Morgantown was the breakthrough that Boykin needed. The junior gunslinger’s Heisman chances hinge on a Big 12 clash against Kansas State this weekend in a game with serious playoff implications.

Reach Staff Reporter Jeremy Shapiro here.