Lou Groza Award Watch List (2026)

The following post features the Lou Groza Award Watch List (2026).

Some college football teams have an NFL-level kicker capable of drilling a 55-yarder into the wind. These are the kickers you need to know about when betting on college football.

Read: Paul Hornung Award Watch List

Related: Bronko Nagurski Award Watch List

The Lou Groza Award Watch List features the best kickers in college football heading into the 2026 NCAAF season.

So, who are the best PKs in 2026? Here’s what you need to know.

Lou Groza Award Watch List (2026)

Below is a table displaying the placekickers on the 2026 Lou Groza Award Watch List. Click here for the official Lou Groza Award Watch List.

Preseason Player Spotlights

Tate Sandell – Oklahoma Sooners

Returning as the clear favorite, Tate Sandell enters 2026 as the reigning Lou Groza Award winner after a historic 2025 season in which he converted 24-of-27 field goals and went a perfect 35-for-35 on extra points. The former UTSA transfer led the nation in 50-plus-yard makes (including multiple from 55 yards), set Oklahoma and SEC records for consecutive field goals, and delivered several clutch long-range kicks that helped power the Sooners’ playoff run. With elite leg strength, proven accuracy under pressure, and another year of experience in the SEC, Sandell is positioned to make a strong case for becoming a rare back-to-back Groza winner.

Aidan Birr – Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

Aidan Birr established himself as one of the most productive kickers in the country last season, leading the FBS with 25 made field goals on 29 attempts while going a perfect 45-for-45 on extra points. The 2025 Lou Groza finalist and first-team All-ACC performer showed both volume and consistency, including several key makes in close games, and set a Georgia Tech single-season record for field goals. Now a senior, Birr returns with a proven track record of high-output scoring and the kind of reliability that keeps him firmly in the national conversation.

Patrick Durkin – Florida Gators

Patrick Durkin brings elite accuracy and recent production to Gainesville after transferring from Tulane, where he earned American Athletic Conference Special Teams Player of the Year honors in 2025. He connected on 25-of-28 field goals (89.3 percent) and 41-of-42 extra points, ranking among the top returning kickers nationally in both volume and percentage. With a strong leg and proven ability to handle a heavy workload, Durkin is expected to provide immediate stability for the Gators and should quickly emerge as a serious Groza contender in the SEC.

Ryon Sayeri – USC Trojans

Ryon Sayeri announced himself as a rising star in 2025 by setting the USC single-season record with 21 made field goals on 25 attempts while converting all 48 of his extra-point tries. The former semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award displayed both accuracy and range, including a 54-yard make, and thrived in a high-powered Trojans offense that should continue to create scoring opportunities. Entering his sophomore season with starting experience and a proven résumé, Sayeri has the tools and supporting cast to challenge for national recognition.

Luca Lombardo – Boston College Eagles

Luca Lombardo quietly put together one of the most accurate seasons in the country in 2025, converting 16-of-17 field goals and all 35 extra points to earn All-ACC honorable mention and a spot among the Lou Groza Award semifinalists. His near-perfect efficiency and consistency made him a reliable weapon for Boston College, and he returns with the same precision that made him one of the most dependable specialists in the ACC. With another year of experience, Lombardo is well-positioned to build on that breakout campaign and remain in the national awards mix.

Cooper Ranvier – Tennessee Volunteers

Cooper Ranvier arrives in Knoxville as a proven commodity after a strong 2025 season at Louisville, where he converted 21-of-25 field goals (including 6-of-7 from 40-49 yards) and 39-of-41 extra points to earn third-team All-ACC honors. The Kentucky native brings accuracy, range, and three years of remaining eligibility to a Tennessee team that should generate plenty of scoring chances. As one of the more experienced transfers on the watch list, Ranvier has the skill set and opportunity to become a major factor in the SEC and a legitimate Lou Groza contender.

Lou Groza Award

The Lou Groza Award is presented annually by the Palm Beach County Sports Commission to the top placekicker in NCAA Division I FBS football. The selection process begins with a preseason watch list of top candidates, supplemented by weekly honors that track performances across the country throughout the regular season. In November, a national panel of over 300 voting members—comprising FBS head coaches, sports information directors, media members, and former finalists—selects 20 semifinalists before narrowing the pool to three finalists. That same committee votes on the overall recipient, who is officially announced live during the annual College Football Awards show in December.

Lou Groza Award Winner (by Year)

Click here for the Lou Groza Award Winner by year.