Arch Manning, CJ Carr and Gunner Stockton among 15 semifinalists for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award

College football’s top quarterback honor for the “golden arm” recognizes more than just flashes of talent. On Thursday, the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award announced its semifinalists, naming 15 quarterbacks vying for the award that traditionally blends passing performance with the reputation and leadership associated with the late Johnny Unitas.

Arch Manning, CJ Carr and Gunner Stockton are among the quarterback group highlighted in the announcement. The selection matters in the quarterback ecosystem because the Unitas Award is one of the more visible postseason markers for report callers, often serving as an early sorting mechanism for who is being viewed as an impact leader as the season moves deeper.

The semifinalist cut also provides a high-profile platform for quarterbacks whose work is being evaluated beyond basic stats. While the award is centered on quarterback play, Unitas Award consideration typically focuses on the overall profile of a passer, including consistency, accuracy, and the ability to make the kind of throws that translate into team offensive production week to week.

For Manning, Carr and Stockton, being named to the semifinalist list places them in a national conversation that extends beyond weekly game recaps. The award process is followed by media and fans because it can help shape how draft narratives form and how teams think about quarterback development in the longer term, especially for programs with high expectations for their next wave of leadership.

The group is not limited to one style of offense or one recruiting profile. Unitas semifinalists frequently come from different program types and play-calling philosophies, but they are grouped together by the same basic standard, the ability to run an offense effectively through the quarterback position while delivering downfield throws and maintaining efficiency under pressure.

As the award moves from semifinalists to finalists, the key storyline will be which quarterbacks keep separating themselves as the season progresses. With 15 semifinalists named, the field is still broad enough that late-season statistical movement and marquee performances can influence who emerges for the final stage of consideration.

This announcement is scheduled to be followed by the next steps in the award’s timeline, culminating in the finalists and eventual winner. For fans watching the award track, the semifinalist list is a useful checkpoint for identifying which quarterbacks have both the production and the profile to contend as the postseason approaches.