Youngstown State’s Beau Brungard highlights a standout group of FCS quarterbacks returning in 2026.
Brungard was electrifying last season, winning the Walter Payton Award as the best FCS offensive player. The unanimous First Team All-American finished 277/403 passing (69%) for 3,234 yards, 26 touchdowns, and three interceptions. Brungard created headaches for defenses with his legs as well, rushing 242 times for 1,468 yards and 27 more scores.
He won the Walter Payton Award in convincing fashion.
Brungard generated 177 voting points from the panel. Western Carolina QB Taron Dickens finished with 138 points, and North Dakota State quarterback Cole Payton had 94.
Brungard showed noticeable passing improvements from his sophomore year to his junior season in 2025. Two seasons ago, he was a First Team All-MVFC selection as an all-purpose player, throwing for 2,141 yards, 12 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions while rushing for 998 yards and 16 TDs.
The 6-foot and 215-pounder elevated his play and lit it up in 2025 with his dual-threat abilities. Brungard had eight games with at least 250 passing yards and 10 games with multiple rushing touchdowns.
His 92.0 overall PFF grade finished No. 5 among FCS quarterbacks and was No. 7 out of all FBS/FCS signal-callers.
After his elite season, Brungard no doubt could have tested the transfer portal waters to earn high-dollar offers from the FBS. But the New Middletown, Ohio, native decided to run it back at YSU for his senior season. New Middletown is about a 20-minute drive from Youngstown.
After the Penguins finished 8-5 overall with a rough first-round playoff exit vs. Yale, Brungard looks to take what is essentially his hometown team to another level nationally in the 2026 FCS season.
It’s in his blood.
His father, Mark, was a YSU quarterback from 1992-95 and helped the program to two national championships in 1993 and 1994.
