Before last week Dak Prescott was a Heisman contender. Today he’s the Heisman frontrunner.

On the same day Georgia tailback and former Heisman favorite Todd Gurley missed his first game of 2014 due to an indefinite suspension handed down by the NCAA, Prescott posted huge numbers in leading Mississippi State past then-No. 2 Auburn, elevating the 6-0 Bulldogs to No. 1 in the nation.

Prescott threw for 246 yards, ran for 121 yards and accounted for three total touchdowns in a 38-23 win over the Tigers. He did all this with the College GameDay and CBS broadcasting crews in attendance, dazzling the largest television audience of any SEC contest in Week 7.

He’s now thrown for 200 yards and rushed for 100 yards in four of his last five outings, and he’s accounted for multiple touchdowns in all four games. The redshirt junior has thrown a touchdown pass in all six of MSU’s wins this season, and he’s run for a touchdown in five straight contests, including three straight wins over top 10 teams. Prescott’s touchdown total is now up to 23 on the year (14 passing, 8 rushing, 1 receiving).

As Prescott’s impressive numbers and Mississippi State’s win total continue to rise, Gurley’s Heisman campaign has taken a huge hit with his suspension for receiving money for his name and likeness. In the past, missing a game or two during a season might have hurt a Heisman campaign, but it wouldn’t have ended one. Missing a game (or more) due to suspension, however, is essentially a Heisman death sentence.

It seems improbable at best that Gurley is able to recover from this setback and pull himself back into contention for college football’s greatest individual prize. Heck,we still don’t know if Gurley will even play another down of college football before turning pro next year.

And without Gurley in the mix, Prescott’s Heisman campaign takes another huge step forward.

RELATED: Todd Gurley returns to practice, no ruling made on suspension

The face of the Mississippi State program already has the advantages that come with playing the quarterback position for the No. 1 team in the nation. As of today, Prescott might be the most recognizable player in college football, a claim that would boost anyone’s Heisman status.

He’s the best player, and the on-field leader, of the best team in America. He plays the same position as 12 of the last 14 Heisman winners. He’s put up video game numbers against some of the best teams the FBS has to offer, and as players like Gurley and Alabama’s Amari Cooper begin to fade, Prescott has surged ahead to take control of the Heisman race.

I understand there are more contenders for the Heisman Trophy than just the stars of the SEC. To the Melvin Gordon, Ameer Abdullah, Everett Golson and Marcus Mariota supporters out there, I assure you those names are not lost upon me. But none of those players are on the same level as Prescott and Gurley, and they have a lot of ground to make up in the second half of the season if they hope to earn more than just a free trip to New York to watch Prescott hoist the trophy.

None of those players have the necessary “signature wins” any Heisman contender must collect to boost their Heisman stock. Between the four of them, their teams have combined to beat just two ranked foes in 24 total games. Prescott has beaten three in his last three games.

And none of the aforementioned stars are even close to matching Prescott’s versatility on the field. Others may be as athletically gifted, but no one puts opposing defenses in quite the same bind Prescott does with his ability to throw and run in any situation. Even the most talented running backs in America can’t compete with a superstar quarterback — just ask former Boston College tailback Andre Williams, who ran for a whopping 2,177 yards last year but couldn’t even crack the top 3 in the Heisman voting.

It remains to be seen whether Gurley will return this season, but even if he does it might be too late. The Bulldogs’ star has shown no signs of letting up, and neither has his team.

Prescott is clearly the most complete star in all of college football, and for now, the Heisman race involves one man and one man only: the Dak Knight.