With the college football season just past the midway point, the Heisman race is heating up.  There were a handful of remarkable performances in week eight that had a huge impact on the rankings.  There was also another massive performance from a local star that landed him on the list.

Here is a look at the top 20 contenders for the Heisman so far this season.

Off the list

Kenny Hill, sophomore, quarterback, Texas A&M: It’s all about what have you done for me lately, and in the case of Kenny Hill it hasn’t been much.  Hill completed 17-of-26 passes for 138 yards and an interception in a 59-0 loss to Alabama.  On the season, he has completed 66.7 percent of his passes for 2,649 yards and 23 touchdowns for the 5-3 Aggies.

20.  Nelson Spruce, junior, wide receiver, Colorado: Spruce had another solid week, but it wasn’t enough as the Buffaloes got hammered by USC 56-28 on Saturday.  In the loss, he caught nine passes for 69 yards, including a 5-yard touchdown.  On the season, he has caught 71 passes for 801 yards and 11 touchdowns.

19.  Jared Goff, sophomore, quarterback, Cal: Goff had his fifth straight game with more than 300 yards passing, but it wasn’t enough as the Bears fell 36-34 to the UCLA Bruins.  In the loss, he completed 25-of-41 for 303 yards and two touchdowns.  On the season, he has completed 64.8 percent of his passes for 2,482 yards and 24 touchdowns.

Up next for Goff and the Bears is a friday night contest with the Oregon Ducks.

18.  Jay Ajayi, junior, running back, Boise State: Ajayi had another great night as he put up at least 150 yards on the ground for the fourth time this season in a 37-27 win over Fresno State.  In the victory, he carried the ball 30 times for 158 yards and a pair of touchdowns to go along with four receptions for 37 yards.  On the season, he has recorded 867 yards and 10 touchdowns on 172 carries.  He has also added 35 catches for 317 yards and two scores.

Up next for Ajayi and the Broncos is a visit from the BYU Cougars.

17.  Connor Halliday, senior, quarterback, Washington State:  Halliday had the week off to prepare for another tough Pac-12 opponent.  On the season, he has completed 66.7 percent of his passes for 3,334 and 28 touchdowns.

Up next for Halliday and the Cougars is a battle with Arizona.

16.  Nick Marshall, senior, quarterback, Auburn: Marshall and the Tigers had their last bye week of the season.  On the season, he has completed 55.4 percent of his passes for 964 yards and 10 scores as well as 492 yards and four touchdowns in the running game.

Up next for Marshall and Auburn is a game against South Carolina.

15.  Brett Hundley, junior, quarterback, UCLA: After to back-to-back losses in the Pac-12, Hundley and the Bruins got back on track against Cal as they outlasted the Bears 36-34 on Saturday.  In the win, he completed 31-of-42 passes for 330 yards and two touchdowns to go along with 94 yards and another score on the ground.  On the season, he has completed 72.5 percent of his throws for 1,856 yards and 13 touchdowns as well as 305 yards and four scores in the running game.

Up next for Hundley and UCLA is a trip to Colorado to face the Buffaloes.

14.  Bryce Petty, senior, quarterback, Baylor: Petty wasn’t at his best as the Bears fell 41-27 on the road to West Virginia.  In the loss, he completed 16-of-36 passes for 223 yards and a pair of touchdowns.  For the season, he has completed 54.7 percent of his passes for 1,757 yards and 17 touchdowns to go along with 100 yards and three scores on the ground.

Up next for Petty and the Bears is a bye week before they face Kansas.

13.  Cody Kessler, junior, quarterback, USC: Kessler had a career-day as the Trojans crushed the Colorado Buffaloes 56-28.  In the win, he completed 19-of-26 passes for 319 yards and a school-record seven touchdowns, according to ESPN.com.  For the season, he has completed 69.5 percent of his passes for 1,884 yards and 18 touchdowns with only one interception.

Up next for Kessler and USC is a trip to Utah to face the Utes.

12.  Amari Cooper, junior, wide receiver, Alabama: After two rough games, Cooper and the Crimson Tide made a statement in a 59-0 drubbing of Texas A&M.  In the win, he caught eight passes for 140 yards and two touchdowns.  For the season, he has caught 62 passes for 908 yards and seven touchdowns.

Up next for Cooper and Alabama is a visit to Tennessee to take on the Volunteers.

11.  Devontae Booker, junior, running back, Utah: Booker had his biggest efforts with the Utes as Utah knocked off Oregon State 29-23 in overtime.  In the win, he carried the ball 32 times for 229 yards and three touchdowns.  On the season, he has carried the ball 120 times for 742 yards and seven touchdowns.

Up next for Booker and the Utes is a visit from UCLA.

10.  Clint Trickett, senior, quarterback, West Virginia: Trickett had his seventh consecutive game with at least 300 yards passing as the Mountaineers shocked the Baylor Bears 41-27.  In the win, he completed 23-of-35 passes for 322 yards, including touchdown passes of 36, 12 and 39 yards.  On the season, he has completed 68.2 percent of his passes for 2,525 and 15 touchdowns.

Up next for Trickett and West Virginia is a tough road test against Oklahoma State.

9.  Kevin White, senior, wide receiver, West Virginia: White had another big day as the Mountaineers upset the No. 4 ranked Baylor Bears 41-27 on Saturday.  In the win, he caught eight passes for 132 yards, including touchdown receptions of 36 and 12 yards.  For the season, he has caught 69 passes for 1,020 yards and seven touchdowns.

Up next for White and the Mountaineers is a trip to face the Cowboys of Oklahoma State.

8.  Tevin Coleman, junior, running back, Indiana: Even though the Hoosiers got thumped 56-17 by Michigan State, Coleman had another big effort.  In the loss, he carried the ball 15 times for 132 yards as well as two receptions.  On the season, he has carried the ball 135 times for 1,192 yards and 11 touchdowns to go along with 17 catches for 140 yards.

Up next for Coleman and the Hoosiers is a bye week before they head to Michigan.

7.  Everett Golson, senior, quarterback, Notre Dame: Golson and Notre Dame made a valiant effort, but came up just short in a battle with Florida State.  In the 31-27 loss, he completed 31-of-52 passes for 313 yards and three touchdowns. On the season, he has completed 61.9 percent of his passes for 1,996 yards and 19 touchdowns to go along with 242 yards and four touchdowns in the running game.

Up next for Golson and the Irish is a bye week before they face Navy.

6.  Bo Wallace, senior, quarterback, Mississippi: Wallace led the Rebels to another win in SEC action with his solid play.  In a 34-3 victory over Tennessee, he completed 13-of-28 passes for 199 yards and two touchdowns.  For the season, he has completed 65.6 percent of his passes for 1,899 yards and 17 touchdowns as well as two scores on the ground.

Up next for Wallace and the Rebels is a trip to LSU.

5.  Jameis Winston, sophomore, quarterback, Florida State: Winston had another big night for the Seminoles as they escaped with a 31-27 victory over Notre Dame.  In the win, he completed 23-of-31 passes for 273 yards and two touchdowns.  On the season, he completed 70.6 percent of his passes for 1,878 yards and 13 touchdowns to go along with two rushing scores.

Up next for Winston and Florida State is a bye before a road game against Louisville.

4.  Ameer Abdullah, senior, running back, Nebraska: Following a week off, Abdullah was back at work as the key cog for Nebraska as the Cornhuskers raced by the Northwestern Wildcats 38-17.  In the win, he carried the ball 23 times for 146 yards and four touchdowns.  For the season, he has registered 1,024 yards and 14 touchdowns to go along with 11 catches for 143 yards and a pair of scores.

Up next for Abdullah and Nebraska is a game against Rutgers.

3.  Melvin Gordon, junior, running back, Wisconsin:  Gordon and Wisconsin had the week off following a 4-2 start.  For the season, he has carried the ball 132 times for 1,046 yards and 13 touchdowns as well as a touchdown reception.

Up next for Gordon and the Badgers is a game with Maryland.

2.  Marcus Mariota, junior, quarterback, Oregon: Mariota and Oregon had another big day as the Ducks drilled Washington 45-20.  In the win, he completed 24-of-33 passes for 336 yards, including touchdown passes of 23 and 16 yards.  On the season, he has completed 70.2 percent of his passes for 1,957 yards and 19 touchdowns with no interceptions as well as 289 yards and five touchdowns on the ground.

Up next for Mariota and the Ducks is a trip to face the Cal Bears.

1.  Dak Prescott, junior, quarterback, Mississippi State:  Prescott and Mississippi State had the week off to prepare for another difficult SEC foe.  On the season, he has completed 61.5 percent of his passes for 1,478 yards and 14 touchdowns to go along with 576 yards and eight scores on the ground.

Up next for Prescott and the Bulldogs is a trip to Kentucky to face the Wildcats.