Player of the Midseason: It would be hypocritical to choose someone who wasn't leading my Heisman Watch in this category, so I won't. Troy Smith is my pick for the midway Heisman. It isn't that we don't still have a race for the award, but Troy Smith has shown that solid, accurate play is a sure path to winning it. Smith has had two very big games this season (Texas and Iowa), both on the road, and has looked fantastic in both. He has one more major test in Michigan, and that will go a long way to saying whether Smith is coming home with the year end award.
2. Adrian Peterson
3. Garrett Wolfe

Coach of the Midseason: Lloyd Carr. There really isn't any competition here. Carr was almost run out of town after losing and losing and losing last year. Carr didn't have many fans among the administration or the alumni coming into the season. He has overachieved this year, winning every test thrown at the Wolverines so far. If there was a coach on the verge of losing a team, it was Carr, and yet, look where Michigan is in the rankings. Nice work, now just keep it up and do it against Ohio State if you really want to be safe in your job.
2. Houston Nutt for making me look like a genius.
3. Ty Willingham (I told you he had the ability to turn Washington around even if some of my other predictions didn't come true)

Biggest Surprise: I have to go with Missouri. With a sophomore starting quarterback, this team is tearing up everyone they play. I chose Nebraska to win this division, and I am seriously doubting that pick now. It isn't that Nebraska hasn't played well. It is more how good Chase Daniel and the rest of the Tigers look on the field. And while he didn't make my top 3 coaches, good things have to be said about head coach Gary Pinkel.
2. The strength of the Big East from top to bottom. Who knew Temple was the problem?
3. John David Booty maybe isn't so bad. Could actually go with all first time starters here. Very impressive performance so far.

Biggest Disappointment: Any team in the state of Florida not named Gators. The other five teams in the state are 10-18 combined. Not that we expected much from Florida Atlantic, or FIU, but Central Florida was supposed to be back contending for the Conference USA title. And there was National Title talk for Miami and Florida State. Now both the Hurricanes and Seminoles have two losses each and there is a good chance that neither will be playing in the ACC championship game. Very much a let down, especially since I picked Miami in the title game for the second year in a row.
2. The weak ACC
3. Fresno State

Best Story: I would normally save this category for on the field stories, but the best story this season has been the treatment of Clemson's Ray Ray McElrathbey. They originally ruled that McElrathbey could not be helped by the community to take care of his younger brother, and there was a huge outcry. The NCAA changed its ruling and has allowed for funds to be set up to let this young man take care of his family. A singular case of the NCAA finally doing something correctly.
2. Northwestern winning their first game against Miami (Ohio) after the death of coach Randy Walker
3. Garrett Wolfe

National Championship: This won't win me many fans in Los Angeles or Gainesville, but here is what I think. The only two teams to go undefeated this season will come out of the Big Ten and the Big East. As a result, the National Championship will be between the winner of the Ohio State-Michigan game and the winner of the West Virginia-Louisville game. Both those teams should make it through the season without a loss, and should have the rankings and computer scores to make it to the final game of the year. I am going to continue to go with Michigan and choose Louisville as their opponent.

Ben Miraski writes for MRISports.com and is a featured blogger on FanIQ. Readers can contact Ben at bmiraski@mrisports.com