With the unofficial halfway point of the college football season upon us, the race for the Heisman Trophy has warmed up.

Each of our top five candidates had strong games this week, allowing them some breathing room from a collection of smaller-school stars and late-comers to this Heisman party. Two important plateaus were crested by our front-runners -- Drew Brees blew past the 2,000-yard passing mark with 509 yards, and Ron Dayne cracked the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the fourth time in his career.

Peter Warrick's continued suspension has put his chances in severe jeopardy, but Florida State teammate Chris Weinke hasn't let that slow him down. Weinke's strong performances in Warrick's absence have earned the Florida State quarterback a place on the list.

Here's a look at our top 10 following Saturday's action:

JOE HAMILTON -- GEORGIA TECH		STATS
1.	Breaking it down: Will voters look at his Heisman-like numbers, or the fact that he keeps having to bring his team back from deficits to beat lesser teams?	Opponent vs. Duke Season	Cmp-Att-Yds 23-34-324 Rush-Yds 18-59 102-152-1,671 72-293	TD-INT 2-0 0 14-4 6
SHAUN ALEXANDER -- ALABAMA		STATS
2.	Breaking it down: Once again took over for 'Bama in a big game, powering to 214 yards against the nation's No. 2 rushing defense.	Opponent at Mississippi Season	Rush-Yds 36-214 Rec-Yds 1-6 171-934 12-214	TD 3 17
RON DAYNE -- WISCONSIN		STATS
3.	Breaking it down: The main weapon in the Badgers' record-setting 705-yard offensive output. Dayne also became the fourth player in Div. I history to gain 1,000 yards in four different seasons.	Opponent vs. Indiana Season	Car-Yds 17-167 175-1,020	TD 2 13
DREW BREES -- PURDUE		STATS
4.	Breaking it down: Finally had a big day against a big opponent. His four interceptions hurt Purdue, but his five first-half TDs were too much for the Spartans to handle. He also had a rushing TD.	Opponent vs. Michigan State Season	Cmp-Att-Yds 40-57-509 191-317-2,332	TD-INT 6-4 19*-8 *includes two rushing TDs, one receiving TD
CHAD PENNINGTON -- MARSHALL		STATS
5.	Breaking it down: Win over Toledo put Marshall firmly in the driver's seat for another MAC title -- and perhaps a major bowl bid. Pennington passed Peyton Manning for eighth place on the NCAA's career passing list with 11,316 yards.	Opponent vs. Toledo Season	Cmp-Att-Yds 27-37-393 138-223-1,962	TD-INT 3-2 17-7
CHRIS WEINKE -- FLORIDA ST.		STATS
6.	Breaking it down: Isn't missing Peter Warrick one bit. Weinke has thrown for 686 yards in the two games Warrick has missed, completing passes to at least 10 different receivers in each contest.	Opponent vs. Wake Forest Season	Cmp-Att-Yds 19-36-354 137-224-1,981	TD-INT 2-1 15-8
TRAVIS PRENTICE -- MIAMI (OH)		STATS
7.	Breaking it down: Prentice now stands five TDs behind Ricky Williams' NCAA-record 72 and has 432 total points to Williams' record of 452.	Opponent at Kent Season	Car-Yds 43-149 223-995	TD 1 15
CHRIS REDMAN -- LOUISVILLE		STATS
8.	Breaking it down: Another nail-biter for the Cardinals, but this time Redman and company were on the winning end, a 32-31 win over Memphis.	Opponent at Memphis Season	Cmp-Att-Yds 33-47-385 178-263-2,314	TD-INT 4-1 20-9
KEVIN FETERIK -- BYU		STATS
9.	Breaking it down: Threw for a season-low 211 yards in three quarters of action, but don't hold that against the nation's leader in total offense.	Opponent at New Mexico Season	Cmp-Att-Yds 15-27-211 158-247-2,027	TD-INT 1-0 17-8
PETER WARRICK -- FLORIDA ST.		STATS
10.	Breaking it down: Now that Warrick has missed two games, his Heisman hopes are all but gone.	Opponent vs. Wake Forest Season	Rec-Yds   36-508	TD   8* *one passing TD