During Friday night’s live Home Depot College Football Awards, the Palm Beach County Sports Commission announced University of Oklahoma junior Tate Sandell as the winner of the 2025 Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award.
“Every kicker dreams of winning the Lou Groza Award, so I’m deeply honored to be this year’s recipient. I watch the presentation every year, so being able to have my name etched into the history books as a Groza Award winner and to be recognized as of one of the best kickers for a legendary Oklahoma program is nothing short of God’s great work. He continues to work miracles in my life every day and gets all the credit. I also credit my parents, brother, sister, grandparents and girlfriend. They have shaped me into the person I am today and continue to challenge and support me.
“I’m also incredibly grateful to Coach (Doug) Deakin and Coach (Brent) Venables for entrusting my leg to do the job. And winning this award would never have happened without my incredible teammates, especially long snapper Ben Anderson and holder Jacob Ulrich. The three of us have an amazing bond on and off the field, and they are equally responsible for the success of our kicking unit this season. I’m excited to continue my amazing season with all my teammates and coaches.”
Not only did Sandell lead all FBS kickers with seven field goals from 50-plus yards this season, he’s just the second kicker since 1995 to go a perfect 7-for-7 from long distance. Those seven long field goals are an Oklahoma single-season record, with four of them coming from an incredible 55 yards or longer. All four of those extra-long kicks came in just a five-game span, but they total more than any Oklahoma kicker had made in their entire careers. It’s just the second time in 30 years an FBS kicker made at least four field goals from 55 yards or further. His 4-for-4 performance on the road at Tennessee is in the conversation for the greatest field goal kicking achievement of all time, with makes from 40, 51 and a pair from 55 yards out. At an average of 50.25 yards per attempt, it would break the currently listed FBS record for longest average distance with a minimum of four makes. In all, Sandell’s 41.8 yard average make distance leads all FBS kickers this season by more than a yard. His 23 total field goals are 5th in the nation, with all of them coming after a miss on his first attempt of the year. That means he’s on a run of 23 consecutive made attempts, far surpassing the previous Oklahoma record of 18 and the longest stretch without a miss in a single season in SEC history.
Sandell beat out Georgia Tech junior Aidan Birr and Hawaii senior Kansei Matsuzawa for the award. Birr’s 25 field goals and 117 points are both tied for the national lead, while Matsuzawa matched an FBS record by starting the season 25-for-25 on field goals.
Sandell is the fifth Groza finalist from Oklahoma but the first Sooners kicker to win the award. The national panel of Lou Groza Award voters is comprised of more than 100 FBS head coaches, SIDs, media members, former Groza finalists, and current NFL kickers. Since the first Lou Groza Award was handed out in 1992, 33 finalists, including 17 winners, have gone on to appear in the NFL, earning 13 trips to the Pro Bowl and taking home eight Super Bowls.
National College Football Awards Association
The Lou Groza Award is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which encompasses college football’s most prestigious awards. The NCFAA’s 25 awards have honored more than 950 recipients since 1935. Visit NCFAA.org for more information.
About the Palm Beach County Sports Commission
The Palm Beach County Sports Commission is a private, not-for-profit organization contracted by Palm Beach County to promote and market the County as a sports and sports tourism destination. The Commission brings sporting events and activities to the County, enhances economic impact, stimulates bed tax revenues (primarily in the off-season), and maximizes utilization of County facilities. The Commission offers a full range of event service support, corporate partnerships, sponsorships, and a local membership program that supports its goals. Local, regional, national, and international marketing efforts are ongoing by the Commission with sports organizations and event owners. The Commission also produces sports-related programs for the residents of Palm Beach County including the annual Lou Groza Award program, the Palm Beach County Sports Hall of Fame, and the Kids Fitness Festival of the Palm Beaches. For more information on the Palm Beach County Sports Commission, go to www.palmbeachsports.com.
