SMU QB Kevin Jennings Cracks Golden Arm Top 10 Amid Huge Season

DALLAS - Kevin Jennings has spent the 2026 season rewriting the SMU football record book. Now, the Mustangs quarterback is getting national recognition for his remarkable production.

Jennings has been named one of 10 candidates remaining for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, making him the only Atlantic Coast Conference quarterback still competing for one of college football's prestigious individual honors.

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The recognition comes during another outstanding season for the Dallas native, who has helped SMU climb to 7-2 following Friday's 51-28 victory over Virginia Tech.

Jennings strengthened his award credentials against the Hokies, completing 24 of 32 passes for 350 yards and four touchdowns. He connected on 75 percent of his attempts and finished with a passing efficiency rating of 201.9.

The performance pushed his season totals to 2,763 passing yards and 25 touchdown passes through nine games.

Those numbers demonstrate why Jennings has become one of the nation's most productive quarterbacks and a central figure in SMU's pursuit of an ACC championship.

Before the Virginia Tech game, Jennings ranked third nationally in completion percentage at 73.7 percent, fourth in passing efficiency at 178.1 and sixth in touchdown passes with 21.

He's also established himself as arguably the most accomplished statistical quarterback in SMU history.

The former South Oak Cliff High School standout entered the weekend holding program career records for passing yards, completions, touchdown passes, total offense and touchdowns responsible for.

His accomplishments are particularly meaningful for a program that has worked to establish itself as a consistent contender since joining the ACC.

But the Golden Arm Award isn't determined entirely by statistics.

Established to honor legendary Baltimore Colts quarterback Johnny Unitas, the award recognizes players demonstrating what the foundation describes as "excellence both on and off the field."

Leadership, academics, sportsmanship and community involvement are among the qualities considered alongside football performance.

Jennings faces substantial competition from a field that includes Texas quarterback Arch Manning, Notre Dame's CJ Carr, Georgia's Gunner Stockton and Utah's Devon Dampier.

Houston's Conner Weigman, Arizona's Noah Fifita, LSU's Sam Leavitt, USC's Jayden Maiava and Oklahoma State's Drew Mestemaker complete the top 10.

The selection committee will reduce the field to five finalists before announcing the winner, who will be honored Dec. 9 in Baltimore.

For Jennings, another national award would add to an already impressive college career.

But SMU still has unfinished business.

With the Mustangs competing for position in the ACC standings and the College Football Playoff conversation, Jennings' most important performances could still be ahead.

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His Golden Arm candidacy is another indication of how far he's come.

And with the regular season approaching its conclusion, he has an opportunity to make an even stronger case.