Clemson’s Nolan Hauser has done everything in his power to solidify himself as the frontrunner for the Lou Groza Award, given each year to the top placekicker in college football.
The cannon-legged junior certainly didn’t hurt his case Saturday.
Hauser once again kept Clemson afloat against Syracuse at the JMA Wireless Dome, accounting for 12 of Clemson’s points with four field goals to help the Tigers to an 18-13 victory.
Hauser made Clemson history in the process, while hitting field goals of 32, 36, 37 and 54 yards.
With his 27th field goal in 2026, Hauser tied Greg Huegel’s single-season school record of 27 field goals in 2015. The record-tyer was Hauser’s 54-yarder in the third quarter that extended Clemson’s lead to 12-6.
Hauser (1,076) also became the first player in Clemson history to convert 1,000 yards of field goals in a single season, and he became the first Clemson kicker on record with three or more field goals in four consecutive games.
In addition, he recorded a fourth field goal of 50 or more yards this season to break a tie for the single season school record of three that was previously shared with B.T. Potter (2019), Richard Jackson (2009) and Chris Gardocki (1990).
Meanwhile, Hauser became the second player in Clemson history and 11th player in ACC history to convert 25 field goals in a single season. Hauser also made a field goal in an 18th consecutive game to tie Huegel’s school record set across the 2015-16 seasons.
Hauser entered Saturday’s game with an active streak of 13 consecutive made field goals. He would finally miss a field goal early in the second quarter when Dabo Swinney chose to let him try a 57-yard attempt, and it came up just short. Hauser has hit from as long as 59 this season, and that was his first miss from 50-plus yards this season.
Hauser is now 27-for-29 on field goals this season. He entered the week as the national leader in field goals and was five field goals clear of a two-way tie for second place.
Hauser was certainly a most valuable player in Saturday’s game vs. Syracuse and also has a case as Clemson’s team MVP this season, providing the Tigers with a steady, reliable and outstanding weapon amid their offensive struggles and red-zone issues.
Hauser and the Tigers return to action next Saturday when they host Georgia Tech at Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is set for 12:30 p.m. on The CW.