2026 games, yards per punt per game. W and L: the team’s results.
Niall Hayes
Handles the punting job without giving the return man a lane.
Play style
Handles the punting job without giving the return man a lane.
Closest statistical matches, adjusted for opponent strength.
Louisville’s specialists
No outlet on our list has written about this player by name this season.
Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 8 games
Swipe the table sideways for more columns.
| Wk | Opp | PUNT | YDS | AVG | LONG | IN20 | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | L 38-41vs No. 9 Ole Miss | 5 | 198 | 39.6 | 47 | 1 | |
| Wk 2 | W 59-13vs Villanova | 2 | 105 | 52.5 | 59 | 1 | |
| Wk 3 | W 41-31vs No. 16 SMU | 6 | 223 | 37.2 | 45 | 1 | |
| Wk 4 | L 27-30vs Wake Forest | 2 | 73 | 36.5 | 39 | 0 | |
| Wk 5 | L 28-31@ NC State | 3 | 120 | 40.0 | 43 | 1 | |
| Wk 6 | W 44-20vs Florida State | 1 | 48 | 48.0 | 48 | 0 | |
| Wk 7 | W 34-26@ Syracuse | 6 | 234 | 39.0 | 47 | 0 | |
| Wk 9 | W 52-24vs Stanford | 2 | 81 | 40.5 | 44 | 0 | |
| Total | 27 | 1082 | 40.1 | 59 | 4 |
Week 3 · 2026
W 41-31
vs SMU
37.2 yards per punt · 6 punts · 1 inside the 20
Edged out SMU at home in a shootout.
Last game (Wk 9): 2 punts.
Season context: team record and system
Punter profile · Distance and placement
Where his punts land, not just how far
Inside the 20
15%4 of 27Touchback rate
4%1 of 27Yards / punt
40.127 puntsLong
59yards40.1 yards/punt on 27 punts · 15% placed inside the 20 · 1 touchback.
Louisville carries three punters; Hayes has taken all 27 punts.
From Melbourne, VIC — one of 84 Australians punting in FBS this season.
