Matt Gay was the nation’s leading field goal kicker in the 2017 season. Connecting on 27 of his 31 attempts, the junior set a new Utah single-season record and finished the year with three more makes than any other kicker in the country. But his season was about much more than just that one number. The 27 makes included five field goals from at least 50 yards out, tied for the most in the nation. Those long distance kicks included not one but two connections from 56 yards out, tied for the longest field goals by regular FBS kickers that year. Against San Jose State, he connected from 56 and 50 in the same game, along with two more field goals and six PATs for an 18-point performance. His other 4-for-4 field goal game was even more important, as he provided nearly all the scoring against rival BYU in a 19-13 Holy War victory. In all, he made multiple field goals in nine games, racking up seven games with double-digit points. His 118 points are the third-most by a kicker in the 2017 season, and he’s the only kicker in the top fifteen with fewer than 40 extra point attempts.

Karty, a junior from Burlington, North Carolina, became just the fourth kicker in FBS history to stay perfect on field goals through a full season, going 18-for-18 for the first season without a miss since 2013. He didn’t play it safe to get there, leading the country with 13 field goals from at least 40 yards out. Three of those came from over 50, including a 61-yard blast that set a new Cardinal record. It was the longest kick in FBS by five yards and the third-longest FG in the last 10 seasons. He went 5-for-5 on field goals against Arizona State, scoring every point in a 15-14 come-from-behind win.

Nate Kaeding began the 2002 season by making 19 field goals in a row, and finished off his Lou Groza Award-winning campaign by making 21 field goals on 24 attempts. Kaeding set a new Iowa record by converting on 57 extra points, besting the old mark by six, and his 120 total points is the most ever in a single season in the extensive history of the Big Ten Conference for a kicker. The model of consistency, Kaeding made two or more field goals in seven of the Hawkeye’s 13 games. He also put on display his ability to connect on kicks from long-range – Kaeding made eight field goals from at least 40 yards away, three of which were from more than 50 yards out.