University Southern California Trojans
USC Quarterback Jayden Maiava Named to Top 15 for Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award
October 08, 2026 | Football
LOS ANGELES—USC quarterback Jayden Maiava has been named as one of the Top 15 quarterbacks for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award.
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.
USC has had three players earn the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award: Rodney Peete (1988), Carson Palmer (2022) and Matt Leinart (2005).Â
Maiava leads the Big Ten in passing yards (1,744), passing touchdowns (15) and points responsible for (104). He has accounted for 17 touchdowns through 6 games, throwing 15 and rushing for 2 with just 3 interceptions.
Maiava's opening six-game stretch compares favorably with the greatest quarterbacks in USC history. Through six games, Maiava has produced more passing yards and passing touchdowns than Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart and Caleb Williams did through the same point of their Heisman Trophy-winning seasons. Maiava's 68.6 completion percentage and 168.1 passing efficiency rating are also the best among the group, while his 15 passing touchdowns are 1 more than Williams and Leinart and 6 more than Palmer recorded during their respective six-game starts.
Maiava makes his throws count. He is No. 2 among USC career leaders in yards per attempt with 8.7 (min. 500 attempts at USC). He's in good company in the stat—Caleb Williams sits at No. 1 with 9.2 yards per attempt, Matt Leinart is third with 8.6 and Sam Darnold holds the No. 4 spot with 8.5 yards per attempt.
He is currently 10th on USC's career total offense leader board with 6,854 total yards of offense as a Trojan. Maiava also ranks 13th on USC's single season passing leader board with 265 completions in the 2025 season.
Additionally, he has been named to the Maxwell Award Watch List, the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award Watch List, the Davey O'Brien Award Watch List, the Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Watch List and he was one of 12 total players from the Big Ten Conference to be named to the 2026 Big Ten Football Preseason Honors list.
Maiava was also named a nominee for the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year, the Allstate AFCA Goodworks Team and to the Wuerffel Trophy watch list for his commitment to community service and leadership beyond the gridiron.
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.Â
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.Â
The winner will be celebrated at the annual Golden Arm Award ceremony in Baltimore on Wednesday, Dec. 9.Â
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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.
USC has had three players earn the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award: Rodney Peete (1988), Carson Palmer (2022) and Matt Leinart (2005).Â
Maiava leads the Big Ten in passing yards (1,744), passing touchdowns (15) and points responsible for (104). He has accounted for 17 touchdowns through 6 games, throwing 15 and rushing for 2 with just 3 interceptions.
Maiava's opening six-game stretch compares favorably with the greatest quarterbacks in USC history. Through six games, Maiava has produced more passing yards and passing touchdowns than Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart and Caleb Williams did through the same point of their Heisman Trophy-winning seasons. Maiava's 68.6 completion percentage and 168.1 passing efficiency rating are also the best among the group, while his 15 passing touchdowns are 1 more than Williams and Leinart and 6 more than Palmer recorded during their respective six-game starts.
Maiava makes his throws count. He is No. 2 among USC career leaders in yards per attempt with 8.7 (min. 500 attempts at USC). He's in good company in the stat—Caleb Williams sits at No. 1 with 9.2 yards per attempt, Matt Leinart is third with 8.6 and Sam Darnold holds the No. 4 spot with 8.5 yards per attempt.
He is currently 10th on USC's career total offense leader board with 6,854 total yards of offense as a Trojan. Maiava also ranks 13th on USC's single season passing leader board with 265 completions in the 2025 season.
Additionally, he has been named to the Maxwell Award Watch List, the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award Watch List, the Davey O'Brien Award Watch List, the Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Watch List and he was one of 12 total players from the Big Ten Conference to be named to the 2026 Big Ten Football Preseason Honors list.
Maiava was also named a nominee for the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year, the Allstate AFCA Goodworks Team and to the Wuerffel Trophy watch list for his commitment to community service and leadership beyond the gridiron.
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.Â
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.Â
The winner will be celebrated at the annual Golden Arm Award ceremony in Baltimore on Wednesday, Dec. 9.Â
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Players Mentioned
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