2026 National Leaders Punt Returns - Games in August/September 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 | 3 | 6 | 173 | 28.83 | 2 | 2.0 | 57.7 |
| 2 | Minnesota | 3 | 10 | 277 | 27.70 | 2 | 3.3 | 92.3 |
| 2 | South Carolina | 3 | 7 | 161 | 23.00 | 2 | 2.3 | 53.7 |
| 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 | Missouri | 3 | 4 | 102 | 25.50 | 1 | 1.3 | 34.0 |
| 7 | Arizona | 3 | 3 | 74 | 24.67 | 1 | 1.0 | 24.7 |
| 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 | 4 | 8 | 176 | 22.00 | 1 | 2.0 | 44.0 |
| 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 | Kansas | 3 | 8 | 116 | 14.50 | 1 | 2.7 | 38.7 |
| 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 |
| 25 | Illinois | 3 | 2 | 79 | 39.50 | 0 | 0.7 | 26.3 |
| 25 | Temple | 3 | 4 | 86 | 21.50 | 0 | 1.3 | 28.7 |
| 25 | UCF | 3 | 9 | 185 | 20.56 | 0 | 3.0 | 61.7 |
| 25 | Fresno State | 3 | 4 | 81 | 20.25 | 0 | 1.3 | 27.0 |
| 25 | Maryland | 3 | 3 | 58 | 19.33 | 0 | 1.0 | 19.3 |
| 25 | Ball State | 3 | 2 | 38 | 19.00 | 0 | 0.7 | 12.7 |
| 25 | New Mexico | 3 | 7 | 124 | 17.71 | 0 | 2.3 | 41.3 |
| 25 | Syracuse | 3 | 12 | 211 | 17.58 | 0 | 4.0 | 70.3 |
| 25 | Army | 2 | 5 | 87 | 17.40 | 0 | 2.5 | 43.5 |
| 25 | BYU | 3 | 6 | 100 | 16.67 | 0 | 2.0 | 33.3 |
| 25 | Oklahoma State | 3 | 9 | 143 | 15.89 | 0 | 3.0 | 47.7 |
| 25 | UCLA | 3 | 5 | 78 | 15.60 | 0 | 1.7 | 26.0 |
| 25 | Michigan State | 3 | 4 | 61 | 15.25 | 0 | 1.3 | 20.3 |
| 25 | Coastal Carolina | 3 | 6 | 89 | 14.83 | 0 | 2.0 | 29.7 |
| 25 | Northern Illinois | 3 | 4 | 59 | 14.75 | 0 | 1.3 | 19.7 |
| 25 | Nevada | 3 | 7 | 102 | 14.57 | 0 | 2.3 | 34.0 |
| 25 | Wake Forest | 3 | 4 | 58 | 14.50 | 0 | 1.3 | 19.3 |
| 25 | Colorado State | 3 | 5 | 71 | 14.20 | 0 | 1.7 | 23.7 |
| 25 | Western Michigan | 3 | 6 | 84 | 14.00 | 0 | 2.0 | 28.0 |
| 25 | Arkansas | 3 | 2 | 28 | 14.00 | 0 | 0.7 | 9.3 |
| 25 | Penn State | 3 | 13 | 172 | 13.23 | 0 | 4.3 | 57.3 |
| 25 | Georgia State | 3 | 5 | 66 | 13.20 | 0 | 1.7 | 22.0 |
| 25 | North Dakota State | 4 | 5 | 66 | 13.20 | 0 | 1.3 | 16.5 |
| 25 | TCU | 3 | 14 | 173 | 12.36 | 0 | 4.7 | 57.7 |
| 25 | UAB | 3 | 7 | 84 | 12.00 | 0 | 2.3 | 28.0 |
| 25 | Indiana | 3 | 6 | 72 | 12.00 | 0 | 2.0 | 24.0 |
| 25 | Sacramento State | 4 | 4 | 48 | 12.00 | 0 | 1.0 | 12.0 |
| 25 | Rutgers | 3 | 2 | 24 | 12.00 | 0 | 0.7 | 8.0 |
| 25 | Georgia | 3 | 8 | 95 | 11.88 | 0 | 2.7 | 31.7 |
| 25 | NC State | 3 | 9 | 99 | 11.00 | 0 | 3.0 | 33.0 |
| 25 | LSU | 3 | 4 | 44 | 11.00 | 0 | 1.3 | 14.7 |
| 25 | Southern Miss | 3 | 2 | 22 | 11.00 | 0 | 0.7 | 7.3 |
| 25 | North Texas | 3 | 1 | 11 | 11.00 | 0 | 0.3 | 3.7 |
| 25 | Old Dominion | 3 | 7 | 71 | 10.14 | 0 | 2.3 | 23.7 |
| 25 | Florida Atlantic | 3 | 3 | 30 | 10.00 | 0 | 1.0 | 10.0 |
| 25 | Houston | 3 | 3 | 30 | 10.00 | 0 | 1.0 | 10.0 |
| 25 | Miami (FL) | 3 | 2 | 20 | 10.00 | 0 | 0.7 | 6.7 |
| 25 | Western Kentucky | 3 | 2 | 20 | 10.00 | 0 | 0.7 | 6.7 |
| 25 | Notre Dame | 3 | 6 | 59 | 9.83 | 0 | 2.0 | 19.7 |
| 25 | Texas A&M | 3 | 6 | 59 | 9.83 | 0 | 2.0 | 19.7 |
| 25 | Louisville | 3 | 5 | 49 | 9.80 | 0 | 1.7 | 16.3 |
| 25 | Texas | 3 | 4 | 39 | 9.75 | 0 | 1.3 | 13.0 |
| 25 | Clemson | 3 | 5 | 47 | 9.40 | 0 | 1.7 | 15.7 |
| 25 | Connecticut | 3 | 7 | 65 | 9.29 | 0 | 2.3 | 21.7 |
| 25 | Oregon State | 3 | 4 | 37 | 9.25 | 0 | 1.3 | 12.3 |
| 25 | Tennessee | 3 | 4 | 37 | 9.25 | 0 | 1.3 | 12.3 |
| 25 | Utah State | 3 | 6 | 55 | 9.17 | 0 | 2.0 | 18.3 |
| 25 | Louisiana | 3 | 4 | 36 | 9.00 | 0 | 1.3 | 12.0 |
| 25 | USF | 3 | 1 | 9 | 9.00 | 0 | 0.3 | 3.0 |
| 25 | San Jose State | 4 | 7 | 62 | 8.86 | 0 | 1.8 | 15.5 |
| 25 | Utah | 3 | 5 | 44 | 8.80 | 0 | 1.7 | 14.7 |
| 25 | North Carolina | 3 | 3 | 26 | 8.67 | 0 | 1.0 | 8.7 |
| 25 | Buffalo | 3 | 4 | 34 | 8.50 | 0 | 1.3 | 11.3 |
| 25 | Alabama | 3 | 5 | 42 | 8.40 | 0 | 1.7 | 14.0 |
| 25 | Marshall | 3 | 3 | 25 | 8.33 | 0 | 1.0 | 8.3 |
| 25 | West Virginia | 3 | 3 | 25 | 8.33 | 0 | 1.0 | 8.3 |
| 25 | Eastern Michigan | 4 | 2 | 16 | 8.00 | 0 | 0.5 | 4.0 |
| 25 | Central Michigan | 3 | 1 | 8 | 8.00 | 0 | 0.3 | 2.7 |
| 25 | Cincinnati | 3 | 6 | 43 | 7.17 | 0 | 2.0 | 14.3 |
| 25 | Middle Tennessee State | 3 | 7 | 50 | 7.14 | 0 | 2.3 | 16.7 |
| 25 | Missouri State | 3 | 6 | 42 | 7.00 | 0 | 2.0 | 14.0 |
| 25 | UTSA | 3 | 3 | 21 | 7.00 | 0 | 1.0 | 7.0 |
| 25 | Ohio | 3 | 1 | 7 | 7.00 | 0 | 0.3 | 2.3 |
| 25 | Kennesaw State | 3 | 1 | 7 | 7.00 | 0 | 0.3 | 2.3 |
| 25 | Stanford | 3 | 8 | 55 | 6.88 | 0 | 2.7 | 18.3 |
| 25 | Arkansas State | 3 | 5 | 34 | 6.80 | 0 | 1.7 | 11.3 |
| 25 | Texas Tech | 3 | 6 | 40 | 6.67 | 0 | 2.0 | 13.3 |
| 25 | Boston College | 3 | 3 | 20 | 6.67 | 0 | 1.0 | 6.7 |
| 25 | Virginia | 3 | 3 | 20 | 6.67 | 0 | 1.0 | 6.7 |
| 25 | Purdue | 3 | 5 | 33 | 6.60 | 0 | 1.7 | 11.0 |
| 25 | Oregon | 3 | 4 | 26 | 6.50 | 0 | 1.3 | 8.7 |
| 25 | Pittsburgh | 3 | 5 | 32 | 6.40 | 0 | 1.7 | 10.7 |
| 25 | Akron | 3 | 6 | 38 | 6.33 | 0 | 2.0 | 12.7 |
| 25 | Nebraska | 3 | 10 | 60 | 6.00 | 0 | 3.3 | 20.0 |
| 25 | Tulane | 3 | 2 | 12 | 6.00 | 0 | 0.7 | 4.0 |
| 25 | Texas State | 3 | 1 | 6 | 6.00 | 0 | 0.3 | 2.0 |
| 25 | Baylor | 3 | 6 | 35 | 5.83 | 0 | 2.0 | 11.7 |
| 25 | Washington | 3 | 5 | 29 | 5.80 | 0 | 1.7 | 9.7 |
| 25 | FIU | 3 | 8 | 46 | 5.75 | 0 | 2.7 | 15.3 |
| 25 | Florida State | 3 | 2 | 11 | 5.50 | 0 | 0.7 | 3.7 |
| 25 | San Diego State | 3 | 12 | 60 | 5.00 | 0 | 4.0 | 20.0 |
| 25 | Tulsa | 3 | 5 | 25 | 5.00 | 0 | 1.7 | 8.3 |
| 25 | UTEP | 3 | 3 | 15 | 5.00 | 0 | 1.0 | 5.0 |
| 25 | Michigan | 3 | 4 | 19 | 4.75 | 0 | 1.3 | 6.3 |
| 25 | Kentucky | 3 | 6 | 28 | 4.67 | 0 | 2.0 | 9.3 |
| 25 | Ohio State | 3 | 10 | 46 | 4.60 | 0 | 3.3 | 15.3 |
| 25 | Sam Houston State | 3 | 4 | 18 | 4.50 | 0 | 1.3 | 6.0 |
| 25 | Northwestern | 2 | 2 | 9 | 4.50 | 0 | 1.0 | 4.5 |
| 25 | Georgia Southern | 3 | 7 | 30 | 4.29 | 0 | 2.3 | 10.0 |
| 25 | SMU | 3 | 7 | 30 | 4.29 | 0 | 2.3 | 10.0 |
| 25 | Hawaii | 3 | 4 | 17 | 4.25 | 0 | 1.3 | 5.7 |
| 25 | Arizona State | 3 | 5 | 20 | 4.00 | 0 | 1.7 | 6.7 |
| 25 | Wyoming | 3 | 4 | 16 | 4.00 | 0 | 1.3 | 5.3 |
| 25 | Appalachian State | 3 | 6 | 22 | 3.67 | 0 | 2.0 | 7.3 |
| 25 | Liberty | 3 | 4 | 14 | 3.50 | 0 | 1.3 | 4.7 |
| 25 | East Carolina | 3 | 3 | 9 | 3.00 | 0 | 1.0 | 3.0 |
| 25 | Charlotte | 3 | 3 | 9 | 3.00 | 0 | 1.0 | 3.0 |
| 25 | Navy | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3.00 | 0 | 0.5 | 1.5 |
| 25 | Colorado | 3 | 5 | 14 | 2.80 | 0 | 1.7 | 4.7 |
| 25 | Memphis | 4 | 3 | 8 | 2.67 | 0 | 0.8 | 2.0 |
| 25 | Troy | 3 | 2 | 5 | 2.50 | 0 | 0.7 | 1.7 |
| 25 | Ole Miss | 3 | 3 | 7 | 2.33 | 0 | 1.0 | 2.3 |
| 25 | Duke | 3 | 5 | 10 | 2.00 | 0 | 1.7 | 3.3 |
| 25 | California | 3 | 4 | 7 | 1.75 | 0 | 1.3 | 2.3 |
| 25 | Louisiana-Monroe | 3 | 3 | 5 | 1.67 | 0 | 1.0 | 1.7 |
| 25 | UNLV | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0.50 | 0 | 0.7 | 0.3 |
| 25 | Auburn | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0.00 | 0 | 1.0 | 0.0 |
| 25 | Air Force | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0.00 | 0 | 0.5 | 0.0 |
| 25 | New Mexico State | 3 | 3 | -3 | -1.00 | 0 | 1.0 | -1.0 |
| 25 | Kent State | 3 | 1 | -13 | -13.00 | 0 | 0.3 | -4.3 |