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"Volatility, "parity" and "chaos" have been college football's buzzwords to begin 2014, and the season is only now beginning to round the halfway mark. Those same words -- with a mix of "inconsistency" and "immaturity" -- largely define this season's quarterback play as well. A top-10 list that was difficult to fill out in August has seen the emergence of a Heisman Trophy front-runner as well as the six remaining unbeaten team's passers make this midseason list. Catastrophic injuries, personnel losses, program depth issues and a toughening of the conference schedules have eliminated the pretenders from the contenders, at least for now. Let the debate begin.
 1. Marcus Mariota | Class: Jr. | Oregon DucksCollege production: 9.5 (out of 10)
NFL skills: 10
Previous rank: 1 There were no roses thrown around in Pasadena on Saturday afternoon, but if Mariota and the Ducks had any shot to get back to the semifinal playoff game in January, they had to beat UCLA in their home, and they did. Mariota continued to show the poise and playmaking (four total touchdowns) his debilitated offensive line so desperately needs, and if the line of scrimmage can simply play average, Mariota can tip the field and the scales Oregon's way.
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