Lou Groza Award Stars of the Week for Week 9

Lou Groza Award Stars of the Week for Week 9

Oct. 28, 2025 (WEST PALM BEACH) – 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.”

Ole Miss notched its highest-ranked road win since 2016, knocking off Oklahoma 34-26 thanks to four field goals from Lucas Carneiro. The junior from Cornelius, North Carolina connected from 45, 37, 29 and 22 yards out to tie his career-high and mark his first 4-FG game since transferring to the Rebels. The 4-for-4 game moved his season totals to 16-for-18, tied for 4^th in FBS for made field goals and the most by a SEC kicker. He added two PATs for a 14-point performance that gives him 77 on the year, placing him in the top ten among all FBS players regardless of position.

The Miami RedHawks are now the only MAC team still unbeaten in conference play after four field goals from Dom Dzioban helped take down Western Michigan in a battle for conference supremacy. The senior from Frankfort, Illinois kicked three field goals in the first half to account for all of Miami’s points, and then sealed a fourth quarter comeback with a 51 yarder that matches his career long. His first half makes came from 44, 29 and 24 yards out. This season, 8 of his 12 field goals have come from 40 yards or longer, tied for the second-highest total in FBS and already surpassing his total from last season.

The season’s first 6-FG game came off the foot of Alex McPherson, with five of them coming in the second half of Auburn’s 33-24 comeback victory over Arkansas. It was an especially meaningful performance as McPherson, one of college football’s all-time most-accurate kickers, bounced back from three misses last week. This time around, the junior from Fort Payne, Alabama connected from 47, 43, 37, 36, 26 and 23 yards out. The 6-for-6 performance matches Auburn’s all-time record, a mark hit most recently in 2016 by three-time Groza finalist Daniel Carlson. He added one more point on a PAT, totaling 19 to equal the season’s highest kick-scoring game so far.

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 the Lou Groza Award on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram at @LouGrozaAward.

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. For more information about the NCFAA and its award programs, visit NCFAA.org or follow on X at @NCFAA.

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 support 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.