Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 2 games
| Wk | Opp | PUNT | YDS | AVG | LONG | IN20 | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 42-23vs UAB | 1 | 42 | 42.0 | 42 | 0 | |
| Wk 3 | W 48-10vs Southern Illinois | 3 | 130 | 43.3 | 49 | 1 | |
| Total | 4 | 172 | 42.6 | 49 | 1 |
#81
Lars Rau
Sophomore punter for Illinois. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
6′3″ · 205 lb · Novato, CA · San Marin
The story
Sophomore punter for Illinois. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
- Signed with Texas State in 2024.
- Transferred from Texas State to Illinois in 2025.
The numbers
43
yards per punt · 2026 · through week 3
2 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 3 punts, 43.3 avg, vs Southern Illinois
Lars Rau
Across two seasons and two programs, two head coaches: G.J. Kinne and Bret Bielema.
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- head-coach lineage
His career
202411 games
- Signed with Texas Stateout of San Marin
2025
- Entered the portal
Career arc
HS
Recruit
—
CFB
College
2 teams
NFL
NFL Draft
—
Game log
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 3 · 2026
W 48–10
43.3 yards per punt · 3 punts · 1 inside the 20
Dominant 38-point win at home against Southern Illinois.
2026 snapshot
Since week 2: +3 punts, +1 punt inside the 20.
Season context · Team result + system
2024Texas State8-5HC: G.J. Kinne · Run-leaning
2026Illinois2-1HC: Bret Bielema · Balanced, slow tempo
Starter
Illinois carries two punters; Rau has taken all four punts.
The battery
Illinois’s specialists
- #44Patrick Mahoney IIILong snapper · Jr.
- #49Zach HaberLong snapper · Jr.
- #81Lars RauPunter · So.4 punts · 43 avg · 1 inside the 20
- #18Jack GrayPunter · Fr.
- #37Ethan MoczulskiKicker · Sr.4 of 5 on field goals
- #27Lucas OsadaKicker · So.
Background
2025 - Illinois Did not play in a game and redshirted Signed with Illinois in May 2025 2024 - Texas State Played in all 13 games 24 punts for 870 yards (36.3 yards per punt) Put six punts inside the 20 Two punts of 50+ yards Long punt of 58 yards against Louisiana (10/29/24) High School Started…
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology