Week 5 featured several strong performances from quarterbacks still in the 2026 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award race, along with a handful of scheduled bye weeks. Here’s a look at how each candidate performed.
ROCCO BECHT | PENN STATE
at Northwestern | L, 34–13
26-of-41 passing | 243 yards | 1 TD | 2 INT
CJ CARR | NOTRE DAME
at North Carolina | W, 37–26
21-of-29 passing | 234 yards | 4 TD | 0 INT
1 rushing TD
DEVON DAMPIER | UTAH
BYE WEEK
NOAH FIFITA | ARIZONA
vs. Cincinnati | W, 34–7
25-of-37 passing | 284 yards | 2 TD | 1 INT
1 rushing TD
KEVIN JENNINGS | SMU
vs. Boston College | W, 25–16
20-of-30 passing | 160 yards | 2 TD | 0 INT
10 rushes | -7 yards | 1 TD
AVERY JOHNSON | KANSAS STATE
BYE WEEK
SAM LEAVITT | LSU
vs. McNeese | W, 63–14
18-of-23 passing | 176 yards | 3 TD | 1 INT
JAYDEN MAIAVA | USC
vs. Washington | W, 25–21
21-of-34 passing | 245 yards | 1 TD | 1 INT
ARCH MANNING | TEXAS
BYE WEEK
DREW MESTEMAKER | OKLAHOMA STATE
BYE WEEK
DANTE MOORE | OREGON
BYE WEEK
JULIAN SAYIN | OHIO STATE
at Iowa | W, 31–14
20-of-27 passing | 324 yards | 3 TD | 0 INT
GUNNER STOCKTON | GEORGIA
vs. Vanderbilt | W, 38–14
25-of-32 passing | 295 yards | 3 TD | 0 INT
CONNER WEIGMAN | HOUSTON
vs. UCF | W, 27–17
18-of-33 passing | 239 yards | 0 TD | 0 INT
13 rushes | 50 yards | 3 TD
DEMOND WILLIAMS JR. | WASHINGTON
at USC | L, 25–21
15-of-26 passing | 198 yards | 1 TD | 0 INT