Liam Boyd’s Historic Week 1 Earns National Recognition

Michigan State kicker Liam Boyd was announced as one of the three Stars of the Week for the Lou Garza Award following his impressive Week 1 performance.

After going 5-for-6 on field-goal attempts against Toledo, Boyd was an easy selection among the top three stars.

As much as the Spartans did not want to end four consecutive drives in the first half with a field goal, especially after marching down the field and into the end zone on their opening drive, it was still nice to see Boyd continue to be as reliable as ever and drill his kicks through the uprights.

Boyd continuously had to put the Spartans on his back to keep points on the board for Michigan State. That is something head coach Pat Fitzgerald and his staff would certainly prefer not to have to rely on, as they would much rather see touchdowns at the end of every drive.

But football does not always work that way.

Despite Fitzgerald's aggressive decisions on fourth down throughout Week 1, the Spartans ultimately lined up for six field-goal attempts.

Boyd went a perfect 4-for-4 in the first half, capping four of Michigan State's five scoring drives with field goals. One of those kicks came from 48 yards out, which at the time established a new personal best for Boyd in a game.

His first field-goal attempt of the second half, however, was blocked after a breakdown in the blocking scheme on the outside. Boyd was attempting another career-long kick, but the line-drive attempt never got enough height.

The blocked kick proved to be a turning point in the game, as the Rockets quickly took their first lead.

But after the Spartans regained control and took a 27-20 lead, they once again sent Boyd onto the field. This time, he was attempting another career long just about an hour after setting his previous best.

From 51 yards out, Boyd drilled it.

The kick gave Michigan State a 10-point lead and capped off an impressive 5-for-6 performance with the longest field goal of his career.

Boyd transferred to East Lansing after kicking at Charlotte last season, following two years at North Carolina. He went 9-for-12 on field-goal attempts throughout the entire 2025 season, meaning he has already made more than half of his total field goals from last year in just one game this season.

Now, Boyd is making career-long kicks, knocking down five field goals in a single game and earning recognition as one of the Lou Garza Award's top three Stars of the Week.

The Lou Garza Award is presented to the nation's top placekicker, and if Week 1 is any indication, the Spartans may have a special weapon at their disposal.

Michigan State will likely lean heavily on its special teams throughout the season, giving Boyd plenty of opportunities to continue showcasing just how good he can be.