OU’s redshirt junior kicker shatters school records with nation-leading long-distance accuracy, becoming the first Sooner ever named a finalist for college football’s top kicking honor
In a season already filled with historic performances, University of Oklahoma redshirt junior kicker Tate Sandell added another milestone to his rapidly growing legacy Tuesday when the Palm Beach County Sports Commission named him one of three national finalists for the prestigious 34th Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award, presented annually by the Orange Bowl.
Sandell, who transferred to Oklahoma from UTSA this past offseason, will square off against Georgia Tech’s Aidan Birr and Hawaii’s Kansei Matsuzawa for the award that recognizes the nation’s top collegiate place-kicker.
The winner will be revealed live on ESPN during the Home Depot College Football Awards on Friday, December 12.
What Sandell has accomplished in just one year in Norman is nothing short of remarkable, and it has rewritten virtually every meaningful place-kicking record in Oklahoma’s storied football history.
Through 11 games, the Port Neches, Texas, native has connected on 22 of 23 field-goal attempts for an eye-popping 95.7% success rate, while going a perfect 30-for-30 on extra points.
More impressively, he has made his last 22 consecutive field-goal tries — the longest streak in OU history (surpassing the previous mark of 18) and the second-longest single-season streak in SEC annals.
Perhaps the most jaw-dropping statistic of Sandell’s breakout campaign is his dominance from long distance.
He is a perfect 7-for-7 on field goals of 50 yards or longer this season — the most 50+ yard makes of any kicker in the country, with no one else having more than four.
That flawless 7-for-7 mark from 50+ makes him one of only two kickers in the FBS since at least 1995 to attempt seven or more from that range in a season without a miss.
Sandell has also drilled a school single-season record 15 field goals from 40 yards and beyond, shattering the previous OU mark of nine.
He owns a school career record with four successful kicks from 55 yards or longer and stands alone as the only FBS kicker in at least the past 30 years to make four 55+ yard field goals within a single season — and he did it in a remarkable five-game span.
From 45 yards and out, he is a perfect 10-for-10.His average made field-goal distance of 42.0 yards leads the entire nation among kickers with at least 18 conversions; the next-closest competitor sits at 38.7 yards.
Individual games have provided some of the season’s most memorable moments. At Tennessee, Sandell tied an OU single-game record by making four field goals, including kicks of 55, 51, 40, and another 55 yards.
In the process, he twice matched Neyland Stadium’s all-time record for longest field goal (55 yards) and became the first FBS kicker since 2021 to make three 50+ yarders in a single game — tying an FBS record. He is also the first kicker since 2011 to boot two 55+ yard field goals in a true road contest.
Sandell’s impact on Oklahoma’s scoreboard has been enormous. He has accounted for 96 of the Sooners’ 300 total points this season — a full 32% of the offense.
In November alone, during crucial road victories over Tennessee and Alabama, he was responsible for 26 of OU’s 56 points (46%). He has made at least one field goal in each of the last 10 games and at least three field goals in four of the past five contests.
Fans now have a direct say in the outcome of the Lou Groza Award. Voting is open to the public at www.lougrozaaward.com, where supporters can cast a ballot for their favorite of the three finalists.
The candidate with the most fan votes will receive one official vote on the final ballot.
The three finalists were chosen by a distinguished panel that includes more than 100 FBS head coaches, sports information directors, media members, former Groza Award winners, and current NFL kickers.
All three will be honored at the 34th Annual Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Awards Banquet on December 8 in Palm Beach County, Florida, before the same panel selects the ultimate winner.
Oklahoma has produced numerous All-Americans and NFL talent at virtually every position, yet the program has never had a Lou Groza Award winner.
Tate Sandell now stands 17 days away from potentially becoming the first.
The No. 8-ranked Sooners (9-2, 5-2 SEC) will close the regular season this Saturday when they host LSU (7-4, 3-4 SEC) inside Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.
Kickoff is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. CT on ABC, with Sandell and the Sooners looking to cap a dream regular season in style before the postseason begins.