As a Stats Perform FCS Top 25 media poll voter and national awards voter, I believe it’s important to be transparent about my voting and reasoning.
I’ll publish my weekly Top 25 ballot every Sunday or Monday, and I’ll also provide a midseason update on who I have my eye on for major awards like the Walter Payton Award (FCS Offensive Player of the Year) and the Buck Buchanan Award (FCS Defensive Player of the Year).
Here are my preseason favorites for the 2026 Walter Payton Award. These are players I’m projecting to be top finalists by the end of the season.
2026 Walter Payton Award Favorites
5. Montana RB Eli Gillman
Gillman is nearing all-time Montana records. He has 3,677 career rushing yards and 49 touchdowns. The school records are 4,070 yards and 52 touchdowns. He looks to cap off an illustrious career and make it four straight All-Conference seasons. As a 2023 freshman, Gillman ran for 968 yards and 12 touchdowns, earning All-Big Sky Second Team honors, Big Sky Freshman of the Year, and the Jerry Rice Award as the best FCS freshman. The next season, he tallied 1,104 yards and 15 touchdowns on the ground, averaging 6.6 YPC. Gillman earned another spot on the All-Big Sky Second Team. And last fall, he totaled 1,540 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns on 250 carries (6.2 YPC). Gillman was named to the All-Big Sky First Team, won the Big Sky Offensive Player of the Year award, and received multiple All-American accolades. A running back hasn’t won the Walter Payton Award since Colgate’s Jamaal Branch did so in 2003. But expect Gillman to be in the conversation this year.
4. Rhode Island WR Marquis Buchanan
The 2025 FCS leader in receiving yards is back this season. Buchanan is a three-time All-CAA selection and a back-to-back All-American. In 2023 as a freshman, he grabbed 42 receptions for 638 yards and four touchdowns. In 2024, he had 82 catches for 1,124 yards and eight TDs. And last fall, the 6-foot-4 and 190-pounder led the FCS in receiving yards, totaling 78 catches for 1,337 yards and eight touchdowns. Buchanan was named to the All-CAA First Team and added multiple All-American First Team accolades. Expect another monstrous season as Buchanan gets All-American QB Devin Farrell returning as well. Farrell finished No. 2 in FCS passing yards with 3,745 yards, including 24 TDs and eight interceptions. The FCS is stacked with quarterbacks in 2026, and the Walter Payton Award has turned into a QB award. The last receiver to win this award was Eastern Washington’s Cooper Kupp in 2015. Buchanan will need another big year to make it onto voters’ Top 5 ballots at the end of the regular season.
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3. Montana QB Keali’i Ah Yat
Ah Yat took a major step forward in his development last year after an up-and-down 2024 campaign. And he was just a third-year sophomore in 2025. He finished No. 1 in FCS passing yards, going 325/470 (69%) for 4,070 yards, 33 touchdowns, and nine interceptions, plus eight rushing scores. Ah Yat was also No. 10 in FCS passing efficiency. He earned multiple All-American accolades, was named on the All-Big Sky First Team, and finished No. 9 in Walter Payton Award voting. The signal-caller was one of two FCS/FBS quarterbacks to throw for more than 4,000 yards last season, joining North Texas’ Drew Mestemaker (4,379). Gillman and Ah Yat may eat into each other’s numbers, which could impact how some voters order their Top 5. But Montana’s offense will be dynamic enough to get at least two players in the Walter Payton Award conversation.
2. Montana State QB Justin Lamson
Lamson transferred to Montana State from Stanford last year and went on to deliver a legendary debut season, leading MSU to its first national championship in 41 years. He had a dynamite second half of the year with clutch performances, notably in the national title game where he was named the Most Outstanding Player. Lamson finished 255/356 (71.6%) for 3,172 yards, 26 touchdowns, and three interceptions while rushing for 734 yards and 16 TDs. He was No. 5 in FCS passing efficiency. Lamson earned a spot on the All-Big Sky Second Team and was the conference’s Newcomer of the Year. He also finished No. 7 in Walter Payton Award voting. With a returning stockpile of talent and greater comfort in the system, expect Lamson’s numbers to be even stronger in 2026.
RELATED: 2026 FCS Preseason Preview Central
1. Youngstown State QB Beau Brungard
Only two players have won back-to-back Walter Payton Awards: App State QB Armanti Edwards in 2008 and 2009, and Sam Houston QB Jeremiah Briscoe in 2016 and 2017. Brungard looks to add his name to that group after an electric 2025 season earned him the FCS’ highest honor. He was on every First Team All-American list after going 277/403 passing (69%) for 3,234 yards, 26 touchdowns, and three interceptions while rushing 242 times for 1,468 yards and 27 more scores. His statistical rankings were just absurd: Finishing No. 6 in FCS rushing yards, No. 2 in rushing touchdowns, No. 7 in passing yards, and No. 9 in passing TDs. Brungard was a First Team All-MVFC selection as an all-purpose player in 2024, throwing for 2,141 yards, 12 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions while rushing for 998 yards and 16 TDs. His passing improvement was noticeable last season. If he gets one year better again for his senior year, what does Brungard have in store in 2026? He’ll need new pass-catchers to emerge, but an experienced offensive line will help the passing game.
