Midseason report: College football's best teams, players, games

The first half of the 2013 colllege fotball season has been defined by the Pac-12's challenge of the SEC's conference supremacy, the consistently superb play of No. 1 Alabama, the quarterback-heavy Heisman trophy race, and the quick trigger firing of two coaches in September.

USA TODAY Sports' Paul Myerberg examines the best players and teams of the first half and what to look for in the second:

Projected BCS Lineup

— Rose Bowl: Stanford vs. Ohio State

— Fiesta Bowl: Baylor vs. Northern Illinois

— Sugar Bowl: LSU vs. Clemson

— Orange Bowl: Florida State vs. Louisville

— BCS Championship: Alabama vs. Oregon

Top Five Heisman Contenders

1. QB Marcus Mariota, Oregon. Mariota continues to shine as the engine behind perhaps the nation's best team at the midway point. Add in the individual statistics and Mariota has the opportunity to take home the Heisman Trophy with room to spare.

2. QB Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M

3. QB Tajh Boyd, Clemson

4. QB AJ McCarron, Alabama

5. QB Jameis Winston, Florida State

Top Five Surprise Teams

1. Tulane (5-2). Tulane has already matched its highest win total since 2004. With five games left in the regular season, the Green Wave are in the mix for not only a postseason berth but also the Conference USA championship.

2. Missouri (6-0)

3. Houston (5-0)

4. Texas Tech (6-0)

5. Auburn (5-1)

Top Five Disappointing Teams

1. North Carolina (1-4). UNC was viewed as a borderline BCS contender coming out of the ACC Coastal Division, but the offense has suffered a steep decline after last year's breakthrough. To make a second-half charge, coach Larry Fedora needs to address the Tar Heels' sputtering attack.

2. Vanderbilt (3-3)

3. Tulsa (2-4)

4. Air Force (1-6)

5. Cincinnati (4-2)

Top Five Second-Half Games

1. Florida State at Clemson, Oct. 19. The winner will take firm control of the ACC Atlantic Division and, barring a collapse, earn a spot in the ACC title game. On a bigger scale, the winner remains one of the four or five teams in the FBS with the chance at a perfect season and national championship.

2. Oregon at Stanford, Nov. 7

3. LSU at Alabama, Nov. 9

4. Texas A&M at LSU, Nov. 23

5. Miami (Fla.) at Florida State, Nov. 2