2026 Golden Arm Candidates: Week 6

Week 6 brought conference matchups, rivalry games and several strong performances from quarterbacks in the 2026 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award race. Here’s a look at how each candidate performed.

ROCCO BECHT | PENN STATE
vs. USC | L, 31–23
21-of-32 passing | 289 yards | 1 TD | 0 INT

CJ CARR | NOTRE DAME
vs. Stanford | W, 58–7
14-of-20 passing | 181 yards | 3 TD | 0 INT
5 rushes | 41 yards | 0 TD

DEVON DAMPIER | UTAH
vs. Kansas | W, 41–24
23-of-30 passing | 238 yards | 3 TD | 1 INT
17 rushes | 71 yards | 1 TD

NOAH FIFITA | ARIZONA
at West Virginia | W, 52–31
16-of-23 passing | 341 yards | 3 TD | 1 INT

KEVIN JENNINGS | SMU
BYE WEEK

AVERY JOHNSON | KANSAS STATE
vs. Houston | L, 35–16
16-of-30 passing | 182 yards | 2 TD | 1 INT
9 rushes | 39 yards | 0 TD

SAM LEAVITT | LSU
at Kentucky | L, 35–34 (OT)
25-of-34 passing | 275 yards | 2 TD | 1 INT
15 rushes | 39 yards | 1 TD

JAYDEN MAIAVA | USC
at Penn State | W, 31–23
21-of-33 passing | 301 yards | 3 TD | 0 INT

ARCH MANNING | TEXAS
vs. Oklahoma | L, 27–24
19-of-31 passing | 260 yards | 3 TD | 2 INT

DREW MESTEMAKER | OKLAHOMA STATE
vs. UCF | W, 42–28
19-of-28 passing | 304 yards | 2 TD | 0 INT
2 rushes | 2 yards | 1 TD

DANTE MOORE | OREGON
vs. UCLA | L, 17–15
DNP — Concussion

JULIAN SAYIN | OHIO STATE
vs. Maryland | W, 45–16
13-of-21 passing | 242 yards | 4 TD | 1 INT

GUNNER STOCKTON | GEORGIA
at Alabama | W, 20–17
18-of-22 passing | 249 yards | 1 TD | 1 INT
6 rushes | 12 yards | 1 TD

CONNER WEIGMAN | HOUSTON
at Kansas State | W, 35–16
19-of-30 passing | 242 yards | 4 TD | 0 INT

DEMOND WILLIAMS JR. | WASHINGTON
vs. Iowa | L, 41–24
6-of-11 passing | 69 yards | 0 TD | 0 INT
Exited in first half — injury