2026 National Leaders Punt Returns - Games vs. Unranked Teams Only (AP Poll) through 10/10/2026
| Name | G | Ret. | Yards | Avg. | TD | Ret./G | Yards/G | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | TCU | 4 | 15 | 184 | 12.27 | 0 | 3.8 | 46.0 |
| 2 | Penn State | 4 | 14 | 165 | 11.79 | 0 | 3.5 | 41.3 |
| 3 | Minnesota | 5 | 17 | 321 | 18.88 | 2 | 3.4 | 64.2 |
| 4 | Kansas | 3 | 10 | 164 | 16.40 | 1 | 3.3 | 54.7 |
| 4 | Ohio State | 4 | 13 | 81 | 6.23 | 0 | 3.3 | 20.3 |
| 6 | Syracuse | 5 | 16 | 227 | 14.19 | 0 | 3.2 | 45.4 |
| 7 | Iowa | 5 | 15 | 212 | 14.13 | 1 | 3.0 | 42.4 |
| 7 | Oregon | 1 | 3 | 25 | 8.33 | 0 | 3.0 | 25.0 |
| 7 | Nebraska | 5 | 15 | 110 | 7.33 | 0 | 3.0 | 22.0 |
| 10 | Baylor | 5 | 14 | 177 | 12.64 | 0 | 2.8 | 35.4 |
| 10 | Oregon State | 4 | 11 | 85 | 7.73 | 0 | 2.8 | 21.3 |
| 12 | Iowa State | 3 | 8 | 135 | 16.88 | 1 | 2.7 | 45.0 |
| 12 | Texas | 3 | 8 | 57 | 7.13 | 0 | 2.7 | 19.0 |
| 12 | Stanford | 3 | 8 | 55 | 6.88 | 0 | 2.7 | 18.3 |
| 15 | BYU | 5 | 13 | 164 | 12.62 | 0 | 2.6 | 32.8 |
| 16 | Virginia Tech | 6 | 15 | 291 | 19.40 | 1 | 2.5 | 48.5 |
| 16 | Texas Tech | 4 | 10 | 94 | 9.40 | 0 | 2.5 | 23.5 |
| 16 | Pittsburgh | 6 | 15 | 130 | 8.67 | 0 | 2.5 | 21.7 |
| 19 | NC State | 5 | 12 | 114 | 9.50 | 0 | 2.4 | 22.8 |
| 19 | SMU | 5 | 12 | 87 | 7.25 | 0 | 2.4 | 17.4 |
| 21 | South Carolina | 3 | 7 | 161 | 23.00 | 2 | 2.3 | 53.7 |
| 21 | Clemson | 3 | 7 | 119 | 17.00 | 1 | 2.3 | 39.7 |
| 21 | UCF | 4 | 9 | 152 | 16.89 | 0 | 2.3 | 38.0 |
| 21 | Kansas State | 4 | 9 | 137 | 15.22 | 1 | 2.3 | 34.3 |
| 21 | Fresno State | 4 | 9 | 88 | 9.78 | 0 | 2.3 | 22.0 |
| 21 | Utah State | 4 | 9 | 74 | 8.22 | 0 | 2.3 | 18.5 |
| 21 | East Carolina | 4 | 9 | 21 | 2.33 | 0 | 2.3 | 5.3 |
| 28 | James Madison | 6 | 13 | 247 | 19.00 | 3 | 2.2 | 41.2 |
| 28 | Oklahoma State | 5 | 11 | 170 | 15.45 | 0 | 2.2 | 34.0 |
| 28 | Georgia | 5 | 11 | 115 | 10.45 | 0 | 2.2 | 23.0 |
| 28 | UCLA | 5 | 11 | 107 | 9.73 | 0 | 2.2 | 21.4 |
| 28 | UTSA | 5 | 11 | 83 | 7.55 | 0 | 2.2 | 16.6 |
| 33 | Oklahoma | 3 | 6 | 130 | 21.67 | 1 | 2.0 | 43.3 |
| 33 | New Mexico | 5 | 10 | 179 | 17.90 | 0 | 2.0 | 35.8 |
| 33 | Vanderbilt | 4 | 8 | 101 | 12.63 | 2 | 2.0 | 25.3 |
| 33 | Notre Dame | 6 | 12 | 142 | 11.83 | 0 | 2.0 | 23.7 |
| 33 | Texas A&M | 3 | 6 | 59 | 9.83 | 0 | 2.0 | 19.7 |
| 33 | Utah | 5 | 10 | 77 | 7.70 | 0 | 2.0 | 15.4 |
| 33 | Alabama | 3 | 6 | 41 | 6.83 | 0 | 2.0 | 13.7 |
| 33 | FIU | 5 | 10 | 54 | 5.40 | 0 | 2.0 | 10.8 |
| 33 | Georgia Southern | 5 | 10 | 54 | 5.40 | 0 | 2.0 | 10.8 |
| 42 | USC | 7 | 13 | 205 | 15.77 | 1 | 1.9 | 29.3 |
| 43 | Louisiana Tech | 4 | 7 | 101 | 14.43 | 1 | 1.8 | 25.3 |
| 43 | UAB | 6 | 11 | 145 | 13.18 | 0 | 1.8 | 24.2 |
| 43 | Nevada | 5 | 9 | 117 | 13.00 | 0 | 1.8 | 23.4 |
| 43 | Florida State | 4 | 7 | 82 | 11.71 | 0 | 1.8 | 20.5 |
| 43 | Army | 5 | 9 | 99 | 11.00 | 0 | 1.8 | 19.8 |
| 43 | San Diego State | 5 | 9 | 33 | 3.67 | 0 | 1.8 | 6.6 |
| 43 | Kentucky | 4 | 7 | 18 | 2.57 | 0 | 1.8 | 4.5 |
| 50 | Old Dominion | 6 | 10 | 154 | 15.40 | 1 | 1.7 | 25.7 |
| 50 | Washington State | 6 | 10 | 147 | 14.70 | 2 | 1.7 | 24.5 |
| 50 | Wyoming | 6 | 10 | 85 | 8.50 | 0 | 1.7 | 14.2 |
| 50 | Arkansas | 3 | 5 | 32 | 6.40 | 0 | 1.7 | 10.7 |
| 50 | Colorado | 3 | 5 | 13 | 2.60 | 0 | 1.7 | 4.3 |
| 55 | Missouri | 5 | 8 | 137 | 17.13 | 1 | 1.6 | 27.4 |
| 55 | Michigan State | 5 | 8 | 84 | 10.50 | 0 | 1.6 | 16.8 |
| 55 | Cincinnati | 5 | 8 | 80 | 10.00 | 0 | 1.6 | 16.0 |
| 55 | Akron | 5 | 8 | 50 | 6.25 | 0 | 1.6 | 10.0 |
| 55 | Navy | 5 | 8 | 30 | 3.75 | 0 | 1.6 | 6.0 |
| 60 | Florida | 4 | 6 | 173 | 28.83 | 2 | 1.5 | 43.3 |
| 60 | Texas State | 4 | 6 | 129 | 21.50 | 1 | 1.5 | 32.3 |
| 60 | Miami (FL) | 4 | 6 | 81 | 13.50 | 0 | 1.5 | 20.3 |
| 60 | Missouri State | 4 | 6 | 42 | 7.00 | 0 | 1.5 | 10.5 |
| 60 | Michigan | 4 | 6 | 31 | 5.17 | 0 | 1.5 | 7.8 |
| 60 | Auburn | 4 | 6 | 13 | 2.17 | 1 | 1.5 | 3.3 |
| 66 | North Texas | 5 | 7 | 93 | 13.29 | 0 | 1.4 | 18.6 |
| 66 | Western Michigan | 5 | 7 | 88 | 12.57 | 0 | 1.4 | 17.6 |
| 66 | Duke | 5 | 7 | 70 | 10.00 | 0 | 1.4 | 14.0 |
| 66 | San Jose State | 5 | 7 | 62 | 8.86 | 0 | 1.4 | 12.4 |
| 66 | Houston | 5 | 7 | 58 | 8.29 | 0 | 1.4 | 11.6 |
| 66 | Tennessee | 5 | 7 | 57 | 8.14 | 0 | 1.4 | 11.4 |
| 66 | Middle Tennessee State | 5 | 7 | 50 | 7.14 | 0 | 1.4 | 10.0 |
| 66 | Tulane | 5 | 7 | 39 | 5.57 | 0 | 1.4 | 7.8 |
| 66 | California | 5 | 7 | 37 | 5.29 | 0 | 1.4 | 7.4 |
| 75 | Colorado State | 4 | 5 | 71 | 14.20 | 0 | 1.3 | 17.8 |
| 75 | Temple | 6 | 8 | 103 | 12.88 | 0 | 1.3 | 17.2 |
| 75 | Northern Illinois | 4 | 5 | 61 | 12.20 | 0 | 1.3 | 15.3 |
| 75 | North Dakota State | 6 | 8 | 85 | 10.63 | 0 | 1.3 | 14.2 |
| 75 | Purdue | 3 | 4 | 39 | 9.75 | 0 | 1.3 | 13.0 |
| 75 | Ole Miss | 4 | 5 | 47 | 9.40 | 0 | 1.3 | 11.8 |
| 75 | Connecticut | 6 | 8 | 73 | 9.13 | 0 | 1.3 | 12.2 |
| 75 | LSU | 4 | 5 | 43 | 8.60 | 0 | 1.3 | 10.8 |
| 75 | Northwestern | 4 | 5 | 35 | 7.00 | 0 | 1.3 | 8.8 |
| 75 | North Carolina | 4 | 5 | 32 | 6.40 | 0 | 1.3 | 8.0 |
| 75 | Sam Houston State | 4 | 5 | 31 | 6.20 | 0 | 1.3 | 7.8 |
| 75 | Ohio | 6 | 8 | 49 | 6.13 | 0 | 1.3 | 8.2 |
| 75 | Washington | 4 | 5 | 29 | 5.80 | 0 | 1.3 | 7.3 |
| 75 | Liberty | 6 | 8 | 33 | 4.13 | 0 | 1.3 | 5.5 |
| 89 | Coastal Carolina | 6 | 7 | 162 | 23.14 | 1 | 1.2 | 27.0 |
| 89 | Florida Atlantic | 5 | 6 | 137 | 22.83 | 1 | 1.2 | 27.4 |
| 89 | Jacksonville State | 6 | 7 | 133 | 19.00 | 1 | 1.2 | 22.2 |
| 89 | Indiana | 5 | 6 | 72 | 12.00 | 0 | 1.2 | 14.4 |
| 89 | Buffalo | 6 | 7 | 67 | 9.57 | 0 | 1.2 | 11.2 |
| 89 | Georgia State | 5 | 6 | 54 | 9.00 | 0 | 1.2 | 10.8 |
| 89 | Wake Forest | 5 | 6 | 52 | 8.67 | 0 | 1.2 | 10.4 |
| 89 | Miami (OH) | 6 | 7 | 50 | 7.14 | 1 | 1.2 | 8.3 |
| 89 | Arizona State | 5 | 6 | 41 | 6.83 | 0 | 1.2 | 8.2 |
| 89 | Virginia | 6 | 7 | 44 | 6.29 | 0 | 1.2 | 7.3 |
| 89 | Hawaii | 6 | 7 | 29 | 4.14 | 0 | 1.2 | 4.8 |
| 89 | Appalachian State | 5 | 6 | 22 | 3.67 | 0 | 1.2 | 4.4 |
| 89 | Delaware | 5 | 6 | 19 | 3.17 | 1 | 1.2 | 3.8 |
| 102 | Maryland | 4 | 4 | 58 | 14.50 | 0 | 1.0 | 14.5 |
| 102 | Louisiana | 5 | 5 | 71 | 14.20 | 0 | 1.0 | 14.2 |
| 102 | Boise State | 6 | 6 | 71 | 11.83 | 1 | 1.0 | 11.8 |
| 102 | West Virginia | 5 | 5 | 55 | 11.00 | 0 | 1.0 | 11.0 |
| 102 | Sacramento State | 6 | 6 | 60 | 10.00 | 0 | 1.0 | 10.0 |
| 102 | Louisville | 3 | 3 | 30 | 10.00 | 0 | 1.0 | 10.0 |
| 102 | Toledo | 6 | 6 | 54 | 9.00 | 1 | 1.0 | 9.0 |
| 102 | UNLV | 6 | 6 | 53 | 8.83 | 0 | 1.0 | 8.8 |
| 102 | Rutgers | 3 | 3 | 24 | 8.00 | 0 | 1.0 | 8.0 |
| 102 | Memphis | 5 | 5 | 31 | 6.20 | 0 | 1.0 | 6.2 |
| 102 | New Mexico State | 6 | 6 | 4 | 0.67 | 0 | 1.0 | 0.7 |
| 113 | Eastern Michigan | 7 | 6 | 65 | 10.83 | 0 | 0.9 | 9.3 |
| 114 | Arizona | 5 | 4 | 120 | 30.00 | 1 | 0.8 | 24.0 |
| 114 | Massachusetts | 6 | 5 | 149 | 29.80 | 1 | 0.8 | 24.8 |
| 114 | Western Kentucky | 4 | 3 | 52 | 17.33 | 0 | 0.8 | 13.0 |
| 114 | Georgia Tech | 4 | 3 | 35 | 11.67 | 0 | 0.8 | 8.8 |
| 114 | Wisconsin | 4 | 3 | 33 | 11.00 | 1 | 0.8 | 8.3 |
| 114 | Arkansas State | 6 | 5 | 34 | 6.80 | 0 | 0.8 | 5.7 |
| 114 | Boston College | 4 | 3 | 20 | 6.67 | 0 | 0.8 | 5.0 |
| 114 | Tulsa | 5 | 4 | 26 | 6.50 | 0 | 0.8 | 5.2 |
| 114 | Marshall | 6 | 5 | 31 | 6.20 | 0 | 0.8 | 5.2 |
| 114 | Kent State | 5 | 4 | 24 | 6.00 | 0 | 0.8 | 4.8 |
| 114 | Southern Miss | 5 | 4 | 23 | 5.75 | 0 | 0.8 | 4.6 |
| 114 | Kennesaw State | 4 | 3 | 16 | 5.33 | 0 | 0.8 | 4.0 |
| 114 | UTEP | 6 | 5 | 22 | 4.40 | 0 | 0.8 | 3.7 |
| 114 | Charlotte | 5 | 4 | 10 | 2.50 | 0 | 0.8 | 2.0 |
| 114 | Louisiana-Monroe | 4 | 3 | 5 | 1.67 | 0 | 0.8 | 1.3 |
| 114 | Troy | 4 | 3 | 5 | 1.67 | 0 | 0.8 | 1.3 |
| 130 | Illinois | 5 | 3 | 85 | 28.33 | 0 | 0.6 | 17.0 |
| 130 | Central Michigan | 5 | 3 | 16 | 5.33 | 0 | 0.6 | 3.2 |
| 132 | Ball State | 4 | 2 | 38 | 19.00 | 0 | 0.5 | 9.5 |
| 132 | USF | 6 | 3 | 39 | 13.00 | 0 | 0.5 | 6.5 |
| 132 | Bowling Green | 6 | 3 | 17 | 5.67 | 0 | 0.5 | 2.8 |
| 135 | Rice | 5 | 2 | 35 | 17.50 | 0 | 0.4 | 7.0 |
| 135 | South Alabama | 5 | 2 | 8 | 4.00 | 0 | 0.4 | 1.6 |
| 137 | Air Force | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0.00 | 0 | 0.2 | 0.0 |