College football’s top kicking award, the Palm Beach County Sports Commission Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award presented by the Orange Bowl, recognizes three of the top kickers each week from FBS division teams as the “Stars of the Week.”
Baylor won its Big 12 Conference opener 23-13 over Colorado thanks to three field goals from Rhett Armstrong. The sophomore from Monument, Colorado connected from 37 and 27 yards out before capping the game with a late 54-yarder. That kick matches the record for the longest field goal in McLane Stadium history. Just four games into his career, Armstrong already has a pair of three-FG performances, helping him to eight field goals this season, tied for fifth in the country.
Connor Calvert’s third field goal proved to be the game-winner as Wake Forest went on the road to upset Louisville 30-27. The sophomore from Bend, Oregon, opened the game with a 39-yard field goal and then scored all of the Demon Deacons’ second-half points with kicks from 35 and 32 yards, both of which turned tied games into Wake Forest leads. Calvert’s nine field goals this season have come in three three-FG performances, making him the only FBS kicker this season with three games of at least three field goals. He has made 17 of his last 18 attempts.
Oklahoma State snapped an 18-game Big 12 losing streak with a 41-24 win over West Virginia that featured four field goals from Sam Keltner. The sophomore from Keller, Texas, also hit four field goals in the Cowboys’ upset of Oregon, giving him an FBS-leading pair of four-FG games. At 10-for-10 on field goals overall, he is tied for the national lead and the only kicker with double-digit attempts who is still perfect on the year. He kicked his season-long of 47 yards in addition to makes from 30, 29, and 19 yards out.
The Award is named for National Football League Hall of Fame kicker Lou “The Toe” Groza, who played 21 seasons with the Cleveland Browns. Groza won four NFL championships with Cleveland and was named NFL Player of the Year in 1954. Although an All-Pro offensive lineman as well, Groza ushered in the notion that there should be a place on an NFL roster for a kicker.
For more information on the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award and to see the “Stars of the Week” throughout the season, please go to www.lougrozaaward.com. For even more updates on the best kicking performances throughout the season, follow @LouGrozaAward on X, Facebook, and Instagram.
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 nearly 1,000 recipients since 1935. This season, 12 NCFAA awards will honor national players of the week each Tuesday.
For more information about the NCFAA and its award programs, visit NCFAA.org or follow on X at @NCFAA and Instagram @TheNCFAA.
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.