Kyle Bonagura Nov 1, 2026, 12:34 AM ET

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Covers college football.

Joined ESPN in 2014.

Attended Washington State University.

College kickers.

In internet parlance, those two words, paired next to each other, have a certain connotation. The rough translation, for the longest time, has been: College football coaches should never rely on their field goal units because they cannot be trusted.

Their tendency to miss seemingly routine kicks has helped create the stereotype, turning even the shortest field goal attempts into moments of collective anxiety for fans and coaches.

For much of Saturday's game between No. 4 Indiana and Minnesota , that reputation seemed well-earned.

Indiana's Nico Radicic had a 52-yard field goal blocked, missed a 31-yarder, made a 46-yarder and then didn't get the opportunity to kick what might have been a score-tying 27-yard field goal because of a fumbled snap.…