Cole Stumbaugh, Ball State P: the 2026 season story
Cole Stumbaugh is a junior punter for Ball State (Mid-American). He ranks 35th of 232 punters in Division I by the Player Index, which judges every punter on the measures that matter at the position, adjusted for the opponents he faced.
Scouting report
Why it matters. Knowing the one or two things a player does best, and where he is ordinary, says more than any single total. Cole Stumbaugh's strongest measure is inside the 20 at 46%, 13th of 134 (the average is 35%). His weakest is touchbacks at 5%, 56th of 134 (the average is 6%).
Against every punter
Why it matters. Splitting the measures into how much, how well and how many big plays shows what kind of punter he is. Among ranked punters he sits, on average, in the 58th percentile for efficiency and 91st for impact.
The season, game by game
Why it matters. A season average can hide a player who is great one week and absent the next; game by game shows how dependable he is. Over 9 games, Cole Stumbaugh's best came in week 8 against Sacramento State and his quietest in week 4 at Kent State.
Where he does his damage
Why it matters. Where and how a player makes his plays shows how his team uses him and what a defense has to take away.
National and conference
Why it matters. A national rank shows how a player stacks up beyond his own league, where the competition can be very different. Cole Stumbaugh is 30th of 134 FBS punters and 2nd of 13 in the Mid-American. Next up nationally is Ryan Millmore of Western Michigan, 0.02 ahead on the index.
Punters like him
Why it matters. Comparing a player with his closest statistical matches puts his season in context beyond the rankings. His closest match this season is Julian Maceri of Houston Christian.
