Augusta, Ga. - Miami's Pierse Stainton was named to the 2026 Ray Guy Award Preseason Watchlist, as announced by the Augusta Sports Council on Friday. The award is presented annually to the nation’s top collegiate punter in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS).
The candidates on the list incorporate a broad spectrum of FBS punters and were compiled based on previous Ray Guy Award Semifinalists, 2025 All-American, and All-Conference selections, top performing punters, and 2026 Preseason All-American, and Preseason All-Conference selections.
This is not a final list as the winner of the Ray Guy Award does not need to appear on the preseason watch list. The number of eligible candidates for the award will grow when the award opens nominations. A final watch list will be announced in early November, and the Ray Guy Award committee will meet to select the ten semifinalists in mid-November.
A national body of Football Bowl Subdivision sports information directors, media representatives, and previous Ray Guy Award winners will vote for the top three finalists to be announced in late November. After the finalists are named, the voting body will cast ballots again to select the nation’s top punter. The winner will be announced live during
The Home Depot College Football Awards airing on ESPN in December.
#MACtion on 2026 Preseason Watchlists
Maxwell Award
Jordan Gant, Akron
Broc Lowry, Western Michigan
Jalen Buckley, Western Michigan
Outland Trophy
Evan Malcore, Miami
Chad Schuster, Western Michigan
Bronko Nagurski
Bryce Llewellyn, Eastern Michigan
Josh Franklin, Western Michigan
John Mackey Award
Terik Mulder, Kent State
Joshua Long, Eastern Michigan
Rimington Trophy
Nicholas Gallegos, Eastern Michigan
Paul Hornung Award
Keith Reynolds, Miami
Wuerffel Trophy
Caden Britton, Ball State
Stevie Bracey, Buffalo
Angel Flores, Central Michigan
Dennis Strey Jr., Eastern Michigan
Wayne Harris, Kent State
Riley Bloch, UMass
DJ Walker, Ohio
Derek Houston, Sacramento State
Matt Hofer, Toledo
Dakari Frazier, Western Michigan
Lombardi Award
Chad Schuster, Western Michigan
Jim Thorpe Award
DJ Walker, Ohio
Butkus Award
Blayne Myrick, Miami
Ray Guy Award
Pierse Stainton, Miami
