2026 Golden Arm Watch List: Week 4
Week 4 brought conference matchups, milestone performances and several standout 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
at Wyoming | L, 27–10
28-of-44 passing | 226 yards | 1 TD | 0 INT CFB Stats
CJ BAILEY | NC STATE
vs. Appalachian State | W, 41–31
24-of-33 passing | 253 yards | 2 TD | 1 INT
2 rushes | 6 yards | 1 TD CBS Sports Hockey
ROCCO BECHT | PENN STATE
vs. Wisconsin | L, 24–20
12-of-29 passing | 114 yards | 0 TD | 1 INT StatMuse
BYRUM BROWN | AUBURN
vs. Vanderbilt | W, 21–15
18-of-27 passing | 140 yards | 1 TD | 1 INT
10 rushes | 57 yards | 1 TD FOX Sports
CJ CARR | NOTRE DAME
at Purdue | W, 49–10
14-of-22 passing | 237 yards | 3 TD | 1 INT
3 rushes | 10 yards | 1 TD StatMuse
DEVON DAMPIER | UTAH
at Iowa State | W, 31–17
18-of-27 passing | 206 yards | 2 TD | 0 INT
7 rushes | 21 yards | 0 TD CFB Stats
BISHOP DAVENPORT | SOUTH ALABAMA
at Kentucky | L, 45–21
DNP — Injury
Davenport did not play for the second consecutive week.
NOAH FIFITA | ARIZONA
at Washington State | W, 34–24
22-of-36 passing | 297 yards | 4 TD | 1 INT
11 rushes | 20 yards | 0 TD StatMuse
KEVIN JENNINGS | SMU
vs. Missouri State | W, 34–24
33-of-39 passing | 464 yards | 3 TD | 1 INT
1 rushing TD SMU Athletics
Jennings also set SMU's career passing-yardage record during the game and completed a school-record 21 consecutive passes. SMU Athletics
AVERY JOHNSON | KANSAS STATE
at Cincinnati | L, 31–26
30-of-50 passing | 292 yards | 1 TD | 0 INT
6 rushes | 38 yards | 0 TD Football DB
SAM LEAVITT | LSU
vs. Texas A&M | W, 35–6
17-of-23 passing | 312 yards | 2 TD | 1 INT
5 rushes | 22 yards | 0 TD Free M Challenge
Leavitt suffered an apparent hamstring injury during the game but remained in and finished the contest. He said afterward that he expected to be fine. RotoWire
DJ LAGWAY | BAYLOR
vs. Colorado | W, 23–13
19-of-39 passing | 221 yards | 2 TD | 1 INT StatMuse
Lagway returned to action after missing the previous two games with an ankle injury. On3
BROC LOWRY | WESTERN MICHIGAN
vs. Boise State | L, 32–7
15-of-28 passing | 110 yards | 0 TD | 1 INT Boise State University Athletics
MADDUX MADSEN | BOISE STATE
at Western Michigan | W, 32–7
16-of-23 passing | 204 yards | 3 TD | 0 INT
29 rushing yards Boise State University Athletics
JAYDEN MAIAVA | USC
vs. Oregon | L, 41–27
23-of-42 passing | 326 yards | 2 TD | 1 INT
6 rushes | 1 yard | 1 TD University of Oregon Athletics
ARCH MANNING | TEXAS
at Tennessee | W, 20–17
14-of-19 passing | 201 yards | 0 TD | 1 INT
11 rushes | -1 yard | 0 TD On3
JOHN MATEER | OKLAHOMA
at Georgia | L, 41–13
25-of-34 passing | 231 yards | 2 TD | 1 INT
15 rushes | 7 yards | 0 TD University of Georgia Athletics
OWEN McCOWN | UTSA
vs. Colorado State | W, 59–45
20-of-30 passing | 303 yards | 3 TD | 0 INT
4 rushes | 17 yards | 0 TD CBS Sports
DREW MESTEMAKER | OKLAHOMA STATE
at West Virginia | W, 41–24
20-of-27 passing | 389 yards | 3 TD | 1 INT Sports Reference
NICK MINICUCCI | DELAWARE
at Virginia | L, 42–3
4-of-8 passing | 24 yards | 0 TD | 0 INT Football DB
DANTE MOORE | OREGON
at USC | W, 41–27
8-of-10 passing | 77 yards | 0 TD | 0 INT
Exited in second quarter — concussion University of Oregon Athletics
Moore left the game following a targeting hit while sliding and was taken to a hospital for evaluation. Oregon later confirmed he sustained a concussion; diagnostic testing showed no additional injuries. Reuters
MARCEL REED | TEXAS A&M
at LSU | L, 35–6
10-of-26 passing | 106 yards | 0 TD | 1 INT Football DB
JULIAN SAYIN | OHIO STATE
vs. Illinois | W, 42–19
27-of-36 passing | 367 yards | 4 TD | 0 INT
7 rushes | 29 yards | 1 TD CFB Stats
LaNORRIS SELLERS | SOUTH CAROLINA
at Alabama | L, 49–18
18-of-30 passing | 185 yards | 1 TD | 1 INT
13 rushes | 72 yards | 0 TD Sports Reference
GUNNER STOCKTON | GEORGIA
vs. Oklahoma | W, 41–13
14-of-25 passing | 171 yards | 1 TD | 1 INT
5 rushes | 0 yards | 0 TD University of Georgia Athletics
CONNER WEIGMAN | HOUSTON
at Georgia Southern | W, 42–28
17-of-22 passing | 239 yards | 4 TD | 0 INT
6 rushes | 14 yards | 2 TD FOX Sports
Weigman accounted for all six Houston touchdowns in the win. Houston Chronicle
DEMOND WILLIAMS JR. | WASHINGTON
vs. Minnesota | L, 27–24
18-of-28 passing | 239 yards | 2 TD | 1 INT
15 rushes | 15 yards | 1 TD