2026 Golden Arm Watch List: Week 3
Week 3 of the college football season featured record-setting performances, conference matchups and several big outings from quarterbacks on the 2026 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Watch List. Here’s a look at how each candidate performed.
MICAH ALEJADO | HAWAII
BYE WEEK
Hawaii did not play in Week 3. The Rainbow Warriors return to action at Wyoming in Week 4.
CJ BAILEY | NC STATE
at Vanderbilt | L, 35–31
25-of-37 passing | 275 yards | 3 TD | 1 INT
ROCCO BECHT | PENN STATE
vs. Buffalo | W, 55–13
11-of-19 passing | 212 yards | 2 TD | 0 INT
BYRUM BROWN | AUBURN
vs. Florida | L, 44–39
20-of-35 passing | 271 yards | 3 TD | 1 INT
18 rushes | 65 yards | 1 TD
CJ CARR | NOTRE DAME
vs. Michigan State | W, 27–10
18-of-24 passing | 234 yards | 0 TD | 0 INT
3 rushes | 9 yards | 1 TD
DEVON DAMPIER | UTAH
vs. Utah State | W, 33–0
22-of-32 passing | 253 yards | 2 TD | 0 INT
10 rushes | 34 yards | 0 TD
BISHOP DAVENPORT | SOUTH ALABAMA
vs. Ohio | W, 41–36
DNP — Injury
Davenport did not play due to a lingering injury from the previous week's game against Tulane.
NOAH FIFITA | ARIZONA
vs. Northern Illinois | W, 42–17
31-of-34 passing | 325 yards | 4 TD | 0 INT
6 rushes | 4 yards | 1 TD
KEVIN JENNINGS | SMU
at Louisville | L, 41–31
24-of-35 passing | 222 yards | 1 TD | 2 INT
AVERY JOHNSON | KANSAS STATE
vs. Tulane | W, 31–20
21-of-28 passing | 227 yards | 0 TD | 0 INT
12 rushes | 152 yards | 2 TD
SAM LEAVITT | LSU
at Ole Miss | L, 32–24
16-of-27 passing | 158 yards | 1 TD | 1 INT
DJ LAGWAY | BAYLOR
vs. Louisiana Tech | W, 36–19
DNP — Ankle Injury
Lagway was ruled out while continuing to recover from an ankle injury.
BROC LOWRY | WESTERN MICHIGAN
at Rice | W, 28–21
14-of-20 passing | 116 yards | 1 TD | 0 INT
17 rushes | 39 yards | 1 TD
MADDUX MADSEN | BOISE STATE
vs. South Dakota | W, 38–24
22-of-31 passing | 208 yards | 2 TD | 0 INT
3 rushes | 19 yards | 0 TD
JAYDEN MAIAVA | USC
at Rutgers | W, 42–35
20-of-32 passing | 277 yards | 2 TD | 0 INT
ARCH MANNING | TEXAS
vs. UTSA | W, 30–6
17-of-33 passing | 164 yards | 2 TD | 0 INT
9 rushes | 50 yards | 0 TD
JOHN MATEER | OKLAHOMA
vs. New Mexico | W, 14–6
19-of-25 passing | 238 yards | 2 TD | 2 INT
OWEN McCOWN | UTSA
at Texas | L, 30–6
14-of-23 passing | 70 yards | 0 TD | 1 INT
DREW MESTEMAKER | OKLAHOMA STATE
vs. Murray State | W, 59–0
20-of-22 passing | 324 yards | 5 TD | 0 INT
NICK MINICUCCI | DELAWARE
vs. Coastal Carolina | W, 22–14
24-of-32 passing | 302 yards | 2 TD | 0 INT
DANTE MOORE | OREGON
vs. Portland State | W, 84–0
19-of-23 passing | 280 yards | 4 TD | 0 INT
MARCEL REED | TEXAS A&M
vs. Kentucky | L, 31–21
26-of-49 passing | 236 yards | 1 TD | 2 INT
JULIAN SAYIN | OHIO STATE
vs. Kent State | W, 59–3
18-of-22 passing | 241 yards | 2 TD | 0 INT
LaNORRIS SELLERS | SOUTH CAROLINA
vs. Mississippi State | L, 41–34
25-of-40 passing | 282 yards | 2 TD | 2 INT
14 rushes | 52 yards | 0 TD
GUNNER STOCKTON | GEORGIA
at Arkansas | W, 45–17
10-of-13 passing | 147 yards | 1 TD | 0 INT
7 rushes | 97 yards | 0 TD
CONNER WEIGMAN | HOUSTON
at Texas Tech | L, 28–26
27-of-38 passing | 282 yards | 3 TD | 0 INT
DEMOND WILLIAMS JR. | WASHINGTON
vs. Eastern Washington | W, 48–16
27-of-33 passing | 373 yards | 4 TD | 1 INT
7 rushes | 33 yards | 0 TD