Texas’ Arch Manning, Georgia’s Gunner Stockton and Notre Dame’s CJ Carr are among 15 quarterbacks who were announced as Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award semifinalists on Thursday.
The Golden Arm Award recognizes quarterbacks who demonstrate excellence both on and off the field.
Manning has led Texas to the No. 1 ranking in the AP Top 25. The Longhorns are 4-0 heading into their annual showdown with Oklahoma on Saturday.
Stockton and Carr also have led their teams to undefeated starts. Georgia is No. 2 and Notre Dame No. 3 in the AP Top 25.
SEC football is a different kind of test. 🏈 Texas QB Arch Manning shares what it’s like competing in the SEC week in and week out. #ArchManning #TexasFootball #Longhorns #SECFootball #CollegeFootball https://t.co/lL1HAAcPcU
— HookEm.com (@bevobeat) October 7, 2026
The remaining contenders advanced from the original 27-player watch list. The original watch list was announced Aug. 19 and was selected under the Golden Arm Award’s refined eligibility criteria for the 2026 season.
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The award is presented by the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation alongside presenting partner A. O. Smith Corporation.
The semifinalists are:
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
