Grant Chadwick Has Seven Punts Inside the 20 and Zero Touchbacks—LSU’s Field-Position Lever

The biggest play in LSU–Alabama may be a snap that ends with neither offense scoring. When one possession stalls, Grant Chadwick’s ability to make Alabama start from the long end of the field can turn a routine exchange into a hidden advantage.

Quick Answer

Grant Chadwick has punted 25 times for LSU Football through eight games in 2026, averaging 39.7 yards with seven punts downed inside the 20 and zero touchbacks. His precision matters against Alabama on November 7 because pinning the Crimson Tide deep can protect LSU’s defense, lengthen scoring drives and create better field position for the Tigers’ next possession.

What do Grant Chadwick’s punting numbers show?

LSU’s official 2026 cumulative statistics credit Chadwick with 25 punts for 992 yards, a 39.7-yard average and a long of 52. Seven punts have landed inside the 20, two have traveled at least 50 yards and none has produced a touchback.

The zero-touchback detail is the precision signal. A punt that carries too far gives the opponent the 20-yard line automatically. Chadwick has avoided that tradeoff while still generating seven inside-the-20 results.

The 2026 LSU Football stats tracker keeps LSU’s team and individual production together as the Tigers enter November.

Why can punting matter so much against Alabama?

Field position changes the size of an offense’s acceptable risk. Alabama starting at its own 8-yard line must protect against a sack, a penalty and a turnover in scoring range. Starting at the 20 or beyond creates more room for deeper concepts and quarterback movement.

For LSU, the goal is to make Alabama stack together more successful plays. A long field gives the Tigers’ front additional chances to create a negative down, while one stop can return the ball to LSU near midfield. That is how special teams can influence both units without appearing in the scoring summary.

What makes an inside-the-20 punt effective?

Distance alone is not enough. The ball must combine hang time, direction and coverage spacing. A high punt gives the coverage unit time to arrive; a directional punt narrows the returner’s choices; a clean bounce near the sideline can eliminate the return entirely.

Chadwick’s assignment is to balance those factors without kicking through the end zone. The ideal result is not always a highlight-reel 60-yarder. It is a controlled ball that forces Alabama to begin with poor field position and no clean return lane.

How does LSU’s coverage unit affect the number?

The punter creates the opportunity, but the coverage team completes it. LSU has allowed 98 punt-return yards on 10 returns, including one touchdown, so lane integrity is essential. A well-placed punt can still become dangerous if the first coverage wave overruns the returner.

That makes the Alabama game a complementary special-teams test. Chadwick must control placement, the gunners must stay leverage-sound and the interior coverage group must close space without opening a cutback lane.

When should LSU prioritize placement over distance?

Near midfield, placement often matters more than raw yardage. A 35-yard punt downed at the 7 can be more valuable than a 48-yard punt that rolls into the end zone. The decision changes with wind, score, clock and the returner’s positioning, but Chadwick’s season record gives LSU confidence in the directional option.

Special teams may also decide which offense can settle for three points. TigerHype’s Scott Starzyk kicking breakdown explains the other side of LSU’s field-position equation.

What should LSU fans watch?

Watch the first LSU punt from near midfield. The formation, sideline target and Alabama return alignment will reveal whether the Tigers trust a directional coffin-corner plan. For kickoff and TV details, see the LSU–Alabama game guide.

Grant Chadwick FAQ

How many punts has Grant Chadwick placed inside the 20?

Grant Chadwick has placed seven of his 25 punts inside the opponent’s 20-yard line through eight games.

How many touchbacks has Grant Chadwick recorded?

Chadwick has recorded zero touchbacks through LSU’s first eight games of the 2026 season.

What is Grant Chadwick’s punting average?

Chadwick is averaging 39.7 yards per punt, with a long of 52 yards.

When does LSU host Alabama?

LSU hosts Alabama on Saturday, November 7, 2026, at 2:30 p.m. Central on ABC.

The bottom line

Chadwick’s seven inside-the-20 punts and zero touchbacks give LSU a quiet form of control. If the Alabama game becomes a possession-by-possession fight, one precisely placed punt can create the field position that eventually becomes points.