Beau Brungard is rewriting the Youngstown State record books. Ty Pennington just delivered six touchdowns against one of the biggest names in FCS football. And the rest of the Walter Payton Award contenders aren't exactly sitting quietly.
The race for the 2026 Walter Payton Award, presented annually to the outstanding offensive player in FCS football, is heating up as October reaches its midpoint.
- Sign Up To Watch College Football On FloCollege
- FCS Football Rankings Week 7: Northern Arizona Cracks Top 10 After Montana Upset
- What We Learned About FCS Football In Week 6
Brungard is chasing a second consecutive award, Montana has two legitimate offensive stars demanding attention, and undefeated Tarleton has a quarterback building a compelling résumé of his own.
With Week 6 in the books and another weekend of conference battles approaching, here's who strengthened their case, where the award race stands and which players could make the biggest statements in Week 7.
Who Impressed In The Walter Payton Award Race In Week 6?
Beau Brungard, Youngstown State: The Record Books Aren't Safe
The reigning Walter Payton Award winner is somehow finding new ways to raise the bar.
Brungard threw for a career-high 386 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for two more scores in Youngstown State's 57-24 victory over Indiana State.
His 56th career rushing touchdown broke a school record that had stood since 1999.
Brungard's 2026 season totals:
- 1,821 passing yards, 17 passing touchdowns
- 567 rushing yards, 10 rushing touchdowns
- 2,388 yards of total offense
- 27 combined touchdowns
Brungard has accounted for nearly four touchdowns per game through seven contests.
Only Armanti Edwards and Jeremiah Briscoe have won consecutive Walter Payton Awards. Brungard is making a serious case to join them.
Ty Pennington, Northern Arizona: Six Touchdowns, Three Different Ways
If Brungard is the established king, Pennington just announced himself as a challenger.
The Northern Arizona quarterback accounted for six touchdowns in a 49-44 upset of then-No. 3 Montana, throwing for 322 yards and a touchdown, rushing for four scores and catching another.
Pennington earned Big Sky Offensive Player of the Week and Stats Perform FCS National Offensive Player of the Week honors.
Pennington's 2026 season totals:
- 1,621 passing yards, 10 passing touchdowns
- 237 rushing yards, five rushing touchdowns
- One receiving touchdown
- 16 total touchdowns accounted for
Here's the important distinction: Four of Pennington's five rushing touchdowns came against Montana.
His season-long numbers don't yet match Brungard's, but few candidates can claim a more memorable signature performance.
Kaden Anderson, Tarleton State: The Undefeated Difference
Kaden Anderson doesn't need six touchdowns in one afternoon to make his argument.
He threw for 347 yards and three scores in Tarleton State's 40-32 road victory over Austin Peay, helping the Texans remain undefeated at 6-0.
Anderson's 2026 season totals:
- 1,693 passing yards
- 15 passing touchdowns, one interception
- 79 rushing yards, two rushing touchdowns
- 17 combined touchdowns
Anderson's case is built on efficiency and meaningful victories.
Tarleton has beaten FBS Bowling Green and a nationally ranked Austin Peay team. Anderson has thrown just one interception through six games.
He might not lead the field in total touchdowns, but his résumé is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.
Chris Parson, Austin Peay: A Loss Doesn't Erase A Contender
Parson's Governors fell 40-32 to Tarleton, but the quarterback accounted for 333 yards of offense and three touchdowns against one of the FCS's remaining unbeaten teams.
Parson's 2026 season totals:
- 1,627 passing yards, 12 passing touchdowns
- 271 rushing yards, six rushing touchdowns
- 1,898 yards of total offense
- 18 combined touchdowns
Parson's dual-threat production remains impressive despite Austin Peay's second loss.
A returning Walter Payton Award finalist, he has the experience and production to remain part of the national conversation.
Eli Gillman, Montana: The Running Back Nobody Should Forget
Quarterbacks may dominate the headlines, but Gillman has a legitimate case of his own.
The reigning Big Sky Offensive Player of the Year has rushed for 877 yards this season, including a 275-yard, four-touchdown performance against UC Davis.
Gillman also owns Montana's career rushing record and the Big Sky's career rushing touchdown record.
His 94 rushing yards and two touchdowns against Northern Arizona weren't enough to prevent Montana's 49-44 defeat, but his season-long production remains significant.
Gillman is proof that the Walter Payton Award conversation shouldn't begin and end under center.
Keali'i Ah Yat, Montana: Don't Confuse A Loss With A Bad Performance
Montana might have the most interesting offensive situation in the award race.
Alongside Gillman, quarterback Keali'i Ah Yat has produced:
- 1,942 passing yards
- 17 passing touchdowns
- Two interceptions
Ah Yat threw for 347 yards and three touchdowns against Northern Arizona, even as the Grizzlies suffered their second defeat.
The 2025 Walter Payton Award finalist has the passing production to remain a contender.
The challenge for Montana's two stars is that their individual cases are developing alongside the same team results. Both can strengthen their résumés, but neither should be judged solely by the Grizzlies' win-loss record.
Luke Yoder, Lehigh: A Different Kind Of Contender
Yoder entered 2026 with a substantial résumé after rushing for 1,409 yards in 2025 and earning Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year honors.
Yoder's 2026 season totals:
- 814 rushing yards on 127 carries
- 12 rushing touchdowns, tied for second in the FCS
- 135.7 rushing yards per game, fifth nationally in total rushing yards
- 6.4 yards per carry
- 3,881 career rushing yards, 10th in Patriot League history
Yoder isn't simply benefiting from Lehigh's undefeated start. He's one of the most productive running backs in the FCS, giving him a legitimate statistical case in the Walter Payton Award race.
The Walter Payton Race At A Glance
- Beau Brungard: Defending winner with 27 combined touchdowns and a new school record.
- Eli Gillman: Established rushing star with 877 yards and historic career production.
- Kaden Anderson: Efficient quarterback leading undefeated Tarleton State.
- Keali'i Ah Yat: Prolific passer with 1,942 yards and 17 touchdowns.
- Chris Parson: Returning finalist with 1,898 yards of total offense.
- Ty Pennington: The biggest Week 6 breakthrough after six touchdowns against Montana.
- Luke Yoder: Proven running back on an undefeated Lehigh team.
What Is The Walter Payton Award?
The Walter Payton Award recognizes the outstanding offensive player in NCAA Division I FCS football.
The award is presented annually by Stats Perform and is named in honor of legendary running back Walter Payton, who played college football at Jackson State.
How Can I Watch College Football On FloCollege In 2026?
Fans can watch FCS, Division II and Division III college football games live and on demand on FloCollege throughout the 2026 season.
Visit the FloCollege college football schedule to find upcoming games, dates, kickoff times and streaming information.
What College Football Games Are On FloCollege?
FloCollege streams FCS, NCAA Division II and NCAA Division III college football games throughout the 2026 season.
The schedule changes each week throughout the season. Fans can view the latest FloCollege football schedule to see upcoming matchups and streaming information.
Join The College Football Conversation
- Follow us on Twitter @FloCollegeFB
- Follow us on Instagram @FloCollegeFootball
- Follow us on TikTok @FloCollegeFootball
- Watch us on YouTube
- Like us on Facebook