2026 National Leaders Punt Returns - Games vs. Non-Conference Teams Only through 09/19/2026
| Name | G | Ret. | Yards | Avg. | TD | Ret./G | Yards/G | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | James Madison | 3 | 9 | 200 | 22.22 | 3 | 3.0 | 66.7 |
| 2 | Florida | 2 | 5 | 173 | 34.60 | 2 | 2.5 | 86.5 |
| 2 | Minnesota | 3 | 10 | 277 | 27.70 | 2 | 3.3 | 92.3 |
| 2 | South Carolina | 2 | 7 | 161 | 23.00 | 2 | 3.5 | 80.5 |
| 2 | Washington State | 3 | 9 | 144 | 16.00 | 2 | 3.0 | 48.0 |
| 2 | Vanderbilt | 3 | 8 | 126 | 15.75 | 2 | 2.7 | 42.0 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | 3 | 4 | 148 | 37.00 | 1 | 1.3 | 49.3 |
| 7 | Arizona | 2 | 2 | 69 | 34.50 | 1 | 1.0 | 34.5 |
| 7 | Missouri | 3 | 4 | 102 | 25.50 | 1 | 1.3 | 34.0 |
| 7 | Jacksonville State | 4 | 4 | 92 | 23.00 | 1 | 1.0 | 23.0 |
| 7 | Virginia Tech | 3 | 9 | 198 | 22.00 | 1 | 3.0 | 66.0 |
| 7 | USC | 3 | 8 | 176 | 22.00 | 1 | 2.7 | 58.7 |
| 7 | Oklahoma | 3 | 6 | 130 | 21.67 | 1 | 2.0 | 43.3 |
| 7 | Boise State | 3 | 4 | 71 | 17.75 | 1 | 1.3 | 23.7 |
| 7 | Kansas State | 3 | 8 | 141 | 17.63 | 1 | 2.7 | 47.0 |
| 7 | Iowa | 3 | 11 | 187 | 17.00 | 1 | 3.7 | 62.3 |
| 7 | Wisconsin | 3 | 3 | 51 | 17.00 | 1 | 1.0 | 17.0 |
| 7 | Iowa State | 3 | 8 | 135 | 16.88 | 1 | 2.7 | 45.0 |
| 7 | Louisiana Tech | 3 | 6 | 99 | 16.50 | 1 | 2.0 | 33.0 |
| 7 | Toledo | 3 | 2 | 24 | 12.00 | 1 | 0.7 | 8.0 |
| 7 | Miami (OH) | 3 | 3 | 28 | 9.33 | 1 | 1.0 | 9.3 |
| 7 | Georgia Tech | 3 | 3 | 26 | 8.67 | 1 | 1.0 | 8.7 |
| 7 | Delaware | 3 | 6 | 36 | 6.00 | 1 | 2.0 | 12.0 |
| 24 | Illinois | 3 | 2 | 79 | 39.50 | 0 | 0.7 | 26.3 |
| 24 | Syracuse | 1 | 7 | 159 | 22.71 | 0 | 7.0 | 159.0 |
| 24 | Wake Forest | 2 | 2 | 44 | 22.00 | 0 | 1.0 | 22.0 |
| 24 | Miami (FL) | 1 | 1 | 22 | 22.00 | 0 | 1.0 | 22.0 |
| 24 | Temple | 3 | 4 | 86 | 21.50 | 0 | 1.3 | 28.7 |
| 24 | UCF | 3 | 9 | 185 | 20.56 | 0 | 3.0 | 61.7 |
| 24 | Fresno State | 3 | 4 | 81 | 20.25 | 0 | 1.3 | 27.0 |
| 24 | Army | 1 | 4 | 80 | 20.00 | 0 | 4.0 | 80.0 |
| 24 | Maryland | 3 | 3 | 58 | 19.33 | 0 | 1.0 | 19.3 |
| 24 | Ball State | 3 | 2 | 38 | 19.00 | 0 | 0.7 | 12.7 |
| 24 | New Mexico | 3 | 7 | 124 | 17.71 | 0 | 2.3 | 41.3 |
| 24 | BYU | 2 | 6 | 100 | 16.67 | 0 | 3.0 | 50.0 |
| 24 | Oklahoma State | 3 | 9 | 143 | 15.89 | 0 | 3.0 | 47.7 |
| 24 | UCLA | 2 | 5 | 78 | 15.60 | 0 | 2.5 | 39.0 |
| 24 | Michigan State | 3 | 4 | 61 | 15.25 | 0 | 1.3 | 20.3 |
| 24 | Coastal Carolina | 3 | 6 | 89 | 14.83 | 0 | 2.0 | 29.7 |
| 24 | Northern Illinois | 3 | 4 | 59 | 14.75 | 0 | 1.3 | 19.7 |
| 24 | Nevada | 3 | 7 | 102 | 14.57 | 0 | 2.3 | 34.0 |
| 24 | Colorado State | 3 | 5 | 71 | 14.20 | 0 | 1.7 | 23.7 |
| 24 | Western Michigan | 3 | 6 | 84 | 14.00 | 0 | 2.0 | 28.0 |
| 24 | Arkansas | 2 | 2 | 28 | 14.00 | 0 | 1.0 | 14.0 |
| 24 | Penn State | 3 | 13 | 172 | 13.23 | 0 | 4.3 | 57.3 |
| 24 | Georgia State | 3 | 5 | 66 | 13.20 | 0 | 1.7 | 22.0 |
| 24 | Clemson | 2 | 3 | 38 | 12.67 | 0 | 1.5 | 19.0 |
| 24 | TCU | 3 | 14 | 173 | 12.36 | 0 | 4.7 | 57.7 |
| 24 | UAB | 3 | 7 | 84 | 12.00 | 0 | 2.3 | 28.0 |
| 24 | Indiana | 3 | 6 | 72 | 12.00 | 0 | 2.0 | 24.0 |
| 24 | Rutgers | 2 | 2 | 24 | 12.00 | 0 | 1.0 | 12.0 |
| 24 | Georgia | 2 | 8 | 95 | 11.88 | 0 | 4.0 | 47.5 |
| 24 | Texas A&M | 2 | 5 | 59 | 11.80 | 0 | 2.5 | 29.5 |
| 24 | LSU | 2 | 4 | 44 | 11.00 | 0 | 2.0 | 22.0 |
| 24 | Southern Miss | 3 | 2 | 22 | 11.00 | 0 | 0.7 | 7.3 |
| 24 | North Texas | 3 | 1 | 11 | 11.00 | 0 | 0.3 | 3.7 |
| 24 | Old Dominion | 3 | 7 | 71 | 10.14 | 0 | 2.3 | 23.7 |
| 24 | Virginia | 2 | 2 | 20 | 10.00 | 0 | 1.0 | 10.0 |
| 24 | Western Kentucky | 3 | 2 | 20 | 10.00 | 0 | 0.7 | 6.7 |
| 24 | Notre Dame | 3 | 6 | 59 | 9.83 | 0 | 2.0 | 19.7 |
| 24 | Texas | 3 | 4 | 39 | 9.75 | 0 | 1.3 | 13.0 |
| 24 | NC State | 2 | 7 | 67 | 9.57 | 0 | 3.5 | 33.5 |
| 24 | Sacramento State | 3 | 3 | 28 | 9.33 | 0 | 1.0 | 9.3 |
| 24 | Connecticut | 3 | 7 | 65 | 9.29 | 0 | 2.3 | 21.7 |
| 24 | Oregon State | 3 | 4 | 37 | 9.25 | 0 | 1.3 | 12.3 |
| 24 | Tennessee | 3 | 4 | 37 | 9.25 | 0 | 1.3 | 12.3 |
| 24 | Utah State | 3 | 6 | 55 | 9.17 | 0 | 2.0 | 18.3 |
| 24 | Louisiana | 3 | 4 | 36 | 9.00 | 0 | 1.3 | 12.0 |
| 24 | USF | 2 | 1 | 9 | 9.00 | 0 | 0.5 | 4.5 |
| 24 | San Jose State | 4 | 7 | 62 | 8.86 | 0 | 1.8 | 15.5 |
| 24 | Utah | 3 | 5 | 44 | 8.80 | 0 | 1.7 | 14.7 |
| 24 | Buffalo | 3 | 4 | 34 | 8.50 | 0 | 1.3 | 11.3 |
| 24 | Marshall | 3 | 3 | 25 | 8.33 | 0 | 1.0 | 8.3 |
| 24 | West Virginia | 3 | 3 | 25 | 8.33 | 0 | 1.0 | 8.3 |
| 24 | Louisville | 2 | 4 | 33 | 8.25 | 0 | 2.0 | 16.5 |
| 24 | Eastern Michigan | 3 | 2 | 16 | 8.00 | 0 | 0.7 | 5.3 |
| 24 | Florida Atlantic | 2 | 1 | 8 | 8.00 | 0 | 0.5 | 4.0 |
| 24 | North Carolina | 2 | 1 | 8 | 8.00 | 0 | 0.5 | 4.0 |
| 24 | Central Michigan | 3 | 1 | 8 | 8.00 | 0 | 0.3 | 2.7 |
| 24 | Alabama | 2 | 4 | 30 | 7.50 | 0 | 2.0 | 15.0 |
| 24 | Kentucky | 1 | 4 | 29 | 7.25 | 0 | 4.0 | 29.0 |
| 24 | Cincinnati | 3 | 6 | 43 | 7.17 | 0 | 2.0 | 14.3 |
| 24 | Middle Tennessee State | 3 | 7 | 50 | 7.14 | 0 | 2.3 | 16.7 |
| 24 | Missouri State | 3 | 6 | 42 | 7.00 | 0 | 2.0 | 14.0 |
| 24 | UTSA | 3 | 3 | 21 | 7.00 | 0 | 1.0 | 7.0 |
| 24 | Ohio | 3 | 1 | 7 | 7.00 | 0 | 0.3 | 2.3 |
| 24 | Kennesaw State | 3 | 1 | 7 | 7.00 | 0 | 0.3 | 2.3 |
| 24 | Arkansas State | 3 | 5 | 34 | 6.80 | 0 | 1.7 | 11.3 |
| 24 | Boston College | 3 | 3 | 20 | 6.67 | 0 | 1.0 | 6.7 |
| 24 | Kansas | 2 | 6 | 39 | 6.50 | 0 | 3.0 | 19.5 |
| 24 | North Dakota State | 3 | 4 | 26 | 6.50 | 0 | 1.3 | 8.7 |
| 24 | Oregon | 3 | 4 | 26 | 6.50 | 0 | 1.3 | 8.7 |
| 24 | Pittsburgh | 2 | 5 | 32 | 6.40 | 0 | 2.5 | 16.0 |
| 24 | Akron | 3 | 6 | 38 | 6.33 | 0 | 2.0 | 12.7 |
| 24 | Texas Tech | 2 | 4 | 25 | 6.25 | 0 | 2.0 | 12.5 |
| 24 | Nebraska | 3 | 10 | 60 | 6.00 | 0 | 3.3 | 20.0 |
| 24 | SMU | 1 | 3 | 18 | 6.00 | 0 | 3.0 | 18.0 |
| 24 | Purdue | 2 | 4 | 24 | 6.00 | 0 | 2.0 | 12.0 |
| 24 | Tulane | 3 | 2 | 12 | 6.00 | 0 | 0.7 | 4.0 |
| 24 | Texas State | 3 | 1 | 6 | 6.00 | 0 | 0.3 | 2.0 |
| 24 | Baylor | 3 | 6 | 35 | 5.83 | 0 | 2.0 | 11.7 |
| 24 | Washington | 3 | 5 | 29 | 5.80 | 0 | 1.7 | 9.7 |
| 24 | FIU | 3 | 8 | 46 | 5.75 | 0 | 2.7 | 15.3 |
| 24 | Hawaii | 2 | 3 | 17 | 5.67 | 0 | 1.5 | 8.5 |
| 24 | San Diego State | 3 | 12 | 60 | 5.00 | 0 | 4.0 | 20.0 |
| 24 | Tulsa | 3 | 5 | 25 | 5.00 | 0 | 1.7 | 8.3 |
| 24 | UTEP | 3 | 3 | 15 | 5.00 | 0 | 1.0 | 5.0 |
| 24 | Michigan | 3 | 4 | 19 | 4.75 | 0 | 1.3 | 6.3 |
| 24 | Ohio State | 3 | 10 | 46 | 4.60 | 0 | 3.3 | 15.3 |
| 24 | Sam Houston State | 3 | 4 | 18 | 4.50 | 0 | 1.3 | 6.0 |
| 24 | Northwestern | 2 | 2 | 9 | 4.50 | 0 | 1.0 | 4.5 |
| 24 | Georgia Southern | 3 | 7 | 30 | 4.29 | 0 | 2.3 | 10.0 |
| 24 | Stanford | 1 | 4 | 17 | 4.25 | 0 | 4.0 | 17.0 |
| 24 | Wyoming | 3 | 4 | 16 | 4.00 | 0 | 1.3 | 5.3 |
| 24 | Houston | 2 | 2 | 8 | 4.00 | 0 | 1.0 | 4.0 |
| 24 | Appalachian State | 3 | 6 | 22 | 3.67 | 0 | 2.0 | 7.3 |
| 24 | Liberty | 3 | 4 | 14 | 3.50 | 0 | 1.3 | 4.7 |
| 24 | Ole Miss | 2 | 2 | 7 | 3.50 | 0 | 1.0 | 3.5 |
| 24 | Arizona State | 2 | 4 | 13 | 3.25 | 0 | 2.0 | 6.5 |
| 24 | East Carolina | 3 | 3 | 9 | 3.00 | 0 | 1.0 | 3.0 |
| 24 | Charlotte | 3 | 3 | 9 | 3.00 | 0 | 1.0 | 3.0 |
| 24 | Navy | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3.00 | 0 | 1.0 | 3.0 |
| 24 | Colorado | 3 | 5 | 14 | 2.80 | 0 | 1.7 | 4.7 |
| 24 | Memphis | 4 | 3 | 8 | 2.67 | 0 | 0.8 | 2.0 |
| 24 | Troy | 3 | 2 | 5 | 2.50 | 0 | 0.7 | 1.7 |
| 24 | California | 2 | 3 | 5 | 1.67 | 0 | 1.5 | 2.5 |
| 24 | Louisiana-Monroe | 3 | 3 | 5 | 1.67 | 0 | 1.0 | 1.7 |
| 24 | Duke | 2 | 4 | 5 | 1.25 | 0 | 2.0 | 2.5 |
| 24 | UNLV | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1.00 | 0 | 0.5 | 0.5 |
| 24 | Auburn | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0.00 | 0 | 1.5 | 0.0 |
| 24 | Air Force | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0.00 | 0 | 1.0 | 0.0 |
| 24 | Florida State | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0.00 | 0 | 0.5 | 0.0 |
| 24 | New Mexico State | 3 | 3 | -3 | -1.00 | 0 | 1.0 | -1.0 |
| 24 | Kent State | 3 | 1 | -13 | -13.00 | 0 | 0.3 | -4.3 |