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Oklahoma

OU kicker Tate Sandell named SEC Special Teams Player of the Week

Bob Przybyloby: Bob Przybylo10/06/25BPrzybylo
Tate Sandell
Aug 30, 2025; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners place kicker Tate Sandell (29) in action during the game against the Illinois State Redbirds at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

One question mark for OU going into the season was at kicker. The Sooners were aggressive in bringing Tate Sandell in from the transfer portal.

That has worked. Never was that more on display that in the OU 44-0 shutout victory against visiting Kent State on Saturday.

Sandell was nails on all three of his field goal attempts in the first half. And these weren’t just easy chip shots. He is the SEC Special Teams Player of the Week, announced Monday.

The makes from 49, 39 and 55 yards. His 55-yard field goal was a personal career long, tied for the seventh longest in school history and tied for OU’s fourth-longest at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Sandell also converted all five of his PAT tries. The Port Neches, Texas, product is 9 for 10 on field goals and 18 for 18 on PATs this season. He has made nine consecutive field goal attempts.

“Tremendous,” head coach Brent Venables said. “You need those guys to be able to perform and be reliable, dependable. The teams we’re going to play, you’re not gonna be able to score touchdowns all the time, so from a timeliness standpoint, from a readiness standpoint, the ability to execute, it makes a huge difference. We know that. So he’s been great. Our punting game, field goal overall in the season has been fantastic and we’re going to have to lean on that at times.”

Clearly, the OU offense would love to punch those in for touchdowns. But with Sandell? You know you’re still going to get points.

“Things that we got to clean up,” offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle said. “But at the end of the day, whenever you have Tate Sandell, who’s just absolute nails out there, right? He’s a great kid. He exudes confidence, and I don’t think anyone on our sideline has zero doubt whenever he walks out there that he’s going to make that field goal.”

OU heads to Dallas and might need a big kick from Sandell against Texas this weekend in the Red River Rivalry 2:30 p.m. Saturday.

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