The Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation Inc. has announced the Top 15 candidates for the 2026 Golden Arm Award, narrowing the field as the college football season moves deeper into conference play.

The Golden Arm Award recognizes quarterbacks who demonstrate excellence both on and off the field. The award is presented by the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation alongside presenting partner A. O. Smith Corporation. The Foundation's mission is to promote the game of football while cultivating strong character, citizenship and academic commitment among young athletes.

The 15 quarterbacks advancing from the original 27-player Watch List represent programs from across the country and have continued to distinguish themselves through their performance, leadership and contributions to their teams during the 2026 season. The original Watch List was announced Aug. 19 and was selected under the Golden Arm Award's refined eligibility criteria for the 2026 season. 

The 2026 Golden Arm Award Top 15

Rocco Becht, Penn State
CJ Carr, Notre Dame
Devon Dampier, Utah
Noah Fifita, Arizona
Kevin Jennings, SMU
Avery Johnson, Kansas State
Sam Leavitt, LSU
Jayden Maiava, USC
Arch Manning, Texas
Drew Mestemaker, Oklahoma State
Dante Moore, Oregon
Julian Sayin, Ohio State
Gunner Stockton, Georgia
Conner Weigman, Houston
Demond Williams Jr., Washington

The Top 15 includes quarterbacks who have produced standout performances throughout the opening weeks of the season. Arizona's Noah Fifita became the Wildcats' all-time career passing leader in September, while SMU's Kevin Jennings has continued to add to his own place in the Mustangs' record book. Ohio State's Julian Sayin has delivered several impressive early-season performances, including 324 passing yards and three touchdown passes in the Buckeyes' recent win at Iowa. 

The group also features experienced quarterbacks leading some of the nation's prominent programs, including Georgia's Gunner Stockton, Texas' Arch Manning, Oregon's Dante Moore and Notre Dame's CJ Carr. Stockton recently completed 25 of 32 passes for 295 yards and three touchdowns in Georgia's win over Vanderbilt, while Carr threw four touchdown passes and added a rushing touchdown in Notre Dame’s victory at North Carolina.

As the season continues, the Golden Arm Award selection committee will evaluate the candidates based on their performance on the field as well as the character, leadership, sportsmanship, academic achievement and citizenship that have defined the award since its inception.

The field will continue to narrow in the coming weeks before finalists are selected and one quarterback is named the 2026 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award recipient. The winner will be celebrated at the annual Golden Arm Award ceremony in Baltimore on Wednesday, Dec. 9.

The Golden Arm Award has recognized many of college football's most accomplished quarterbacks throughout its history, honoring players who exemplify the qualities associated with its namesake, Johnny Unitas.

Sharing a tradition of innovation with Johnny Unitas, who helped pioneer football’s two-minute drill, A. O. Smith has been an innovator in its industry for more than a century. A. O. Smith offers its customers an additional advantage in that the company designs, builds, distributes and supports the world's broadest and deepest line of residential and commercial water heaters, as well as commercial boilers. This single-source concept simplifies ordering, installation and service and is backed by 80 years of research and innovation.