2026 Golden Arm Watch List: Week 2 Quarterback Performances
Week 2 of the college football season featured another full slate of action for quarterbacks on the 2026 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Watch List. Here’s a look at how each candidate performed.
MICAH ALEJADO | HAWAII
vs. New Mexico State | W, 29–19
33-of-45 passing | 346 yards | 0 TD | 0 INT
ESPN confirms the 29–19 final; Hawaii's official box score confirms Alejado's 33-of-45, 346-yard line.
CJ BAILEY | NC STATE
vs. Richmond | W, 73–0
13-of-17 passing | 281 yards | 1 TD | 0 INT
6 rushes | 25 yards | 1 TD
ROCCO BECHT | PENN STATE
at Temple | W, 27–9
21-of-27 passing | 268 yards | 3 TD | 0 INT
5 rushes | 11 yards | 0 TD
BYRUM BROWN | AUBURN
vs. Southern Miss | W, 43–8
17-of-28 passing | 223 yards | 2 TD | 0 INT
13 rushes | 88 yards | 0 TD
CJ CARR | NOTRE DAME
vs. Rice | W, 52–0
16-of-20 passing | 253 yards | 4 TD | 0 INT
DEVON DAMPIER | UTAH
vs. Arkansas | W, 43–10
18-of-24 passing | 261 yards | 2 TD | 1 INT
2 rushing TD
BISHOP DAVENPORT | SOUTH ALABAMA
at Tulane | L, 28–24
22-of-32 passing | 296 yards | 2 TD | 0 INT
9 rushes | 50 yards | 0 TD
NOAH FIFITA | ARIZONA
at BYU | L, 28–17
23-of-31 passing | 230 yards | 1 TD | 1 INT
11 rushes | 38 yards | 1 TD
KEVIN JENNINGS | SMU
vs. UC Davis | W, 56–10
14-of-16 passing | 337 yards | 5 TD | 0 INT
3 rushes | 5 yards | 0 TD
AVERY JOHNSON | KANSAS STATE
vs. Washington State | W, 34–7
22-of-34 passing | 192 yards | 3 TD | 2 INT
78 rushing yards | 0 TD
SAM LEAVITT | LSU
vs. Louisiana Tech | W, 45–14
25-of-38 passing | 344 yards | 1 TD | 3 INT
11 rushes | 22 yards | 3 TD
DJ LAGWAY | BAYLOR
vs. Prairie View A&M | W, 44–3
DNP — ankle injury
Lagway was ruled out after suffering the injury in Baylor's season opener against Auburn.
BROC LOWRY | WESTERN MICHIGAN
vs. Monmouth | W, 49–14
14-of-20 passing | 212 yards | 3 TD | 0 INT
40 rushing yards
MADDUX MADSEN | BOISE STATE
vs. Memphis | W, 38–20
17-of-28 passing | 221 yards | 1 TD | 0 INT
JAYDEN MAIAVA | USC
vs. Louisiana | W, 49–30
19-of-29 passing | 261 yards | 5 TD | 1 INT
0 rushes | 0 yards | 0 TD
ARCH MANNING | TEXAS
vs. Ohio State | W, 24–23
23-of-37 passing | 195 yards | 1 TD | 1 INT
24 rushing yards
JOHN MATEER | OKLAHOMA
at Michigan | L, 17–10
17-of-33 passing | 189 yards | 1 TD | 1 INT
OWEN McCOWN | UTSA
at Texas State | W, 31–26
28-of-42 passing | 214 yards | 1 TD | 0 INT
6 rushes | 8 yards | 0 TD
DREW MESTEMAKER | OKLAHOMA STATE
vs. Oregon | W, 39–31
26-of-43 passing | 317 yards | 2 TD | 2 INT
6 rushes | 109 yards | 1 TD
NICK MINICUCCI | DELAWARE
at Vanderbilt | L, 35–26
11-of-27 passing | 182 yards | 1 TD | 2 INT
DANTE MOORE | OREGON
at Oklahoma State | L, 39–31
14-of-29 passing | 191 yards | 2 TD | 0 INT
6 rushes | -9 yards | 0 TD
MARCEL REED | TEXAS A&M
vs. Arizona State | W, 48–20
15-of-25 passing | 163 yards | 3 TD | 1 INT
7 rushes | 17 yards | 0 TD
JULIAN SAYIN | OHIO STATE
at Texas | L, 24–23
17-of-32 passing | 278 yards | 1 TD | 1 INT
LaNORRIS SELLERS | SOUTH CAROLINA
vs. Towson | W, 45–9
10-of-23 passing | 96 yards | 0 TD | 1 INT
119 rushing yards | 1 TD
GUNNER STOCKTON | GEORGIA
vs. Western Kentucky | W, 70–20
13-of-16 passing | 234 yards | 5 TD | 0 INT
CONNER WEIGMAN | HOUSTON
vs. Southern | W, 77–6
9-of-12 passing | 120 yards | 3 TD | 0 INT
DEMOND WILLIAMS JR. | WASHINGTON
vs. Utah State | W, 16–14
26-of-41 passing | 249 yards | 0 TD | 0 INT
11 rushes | 56 yards | 0 TD