Texas Tech University Athletics
Harrington named to semifinalist list for Groza Award
November 18, 2025 | Football
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Texas Tech's Stone Harrington was named one of 20 semifinalists for the 2025 Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award, announced by the Palm Beach County Sports Commission on Tuesday. The award is presented annually to the nation's top place-kicker.
Harrington, who is 18-for-21 on field goals, is having one of Texas Tech's best single seasons through week 12 of the 2025 college football season, and one of the top seasons overall in the FBS, as acknowledged by the Groza committee. His 18 made field goals rank tied for 11th-most in the FBS in 2025.
Harrington is perfect from inside 40 yards this season, firing an accurate 11-for-11, while from 50+, he is 3-for-4 with a long of 58. Harrington's 58-yard field goal at Utah during week 4 of the season remains tied for the third-longest field goal made by any FBS kicker this season.
Within Texas Tech history, Harrington's 18 made field goals rank as the fifth-most in a single season, and his 58-yard made field goal is the second-longest in program history, behind Jonathan Garibay's 62-yarder in 2021. Harrington also set a Texas Tech single-game record with five successful field goals versus BYU. Harrington found the uprights from 47 yards to give Texas Tech its first points in the win and then connected again from 27, 39, 29, and 34 yards the rest of the way.Â
Harrington is a three-time Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week honoree this season after most recently earning the accolade following his five makes against BYU. He also picked up the award following Texas Tech's wins at Houston and Kansas State.
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Only five of this year's semifinalists have earned the honor before, led by Georgia junior Peyton Woodring, who has now made the list three years running. He's joined by Ole Miss junior Lucas Carneiro, Miami (OH) senior Dom Dzioban, and Kansas senior Laith Marjan, all repeating from last season, as well as Florida senior Trey Smack, who was a semifinalist in 2023. They're all chasing Hawaii senior Kansei Matsuzawa, whose 22-for-22 season puts him tied atop the FBS leaderboard in both made field goals and field goal percentage.Â
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Semifinalists will be voted on by a panel of more than 100 FBS head coaches, SIDs, media members, former Groza finalists, and current NFL kickers to select the three finalists. These finalists will be announced on Nov. 25 and honored at the 34th annual Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Awards Banquet on Dec. 8 in Palm Beach County. The same panel then selects the winner, who will be announced live on ESPN at the Home Depot College Football Awards Show on Friday, Dec. 12.
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About the Lou Groza Award
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.
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Since the first Lou Groza Award was handed out in 1992, 33 finalists, including 17 winners, have gone on to appear in the NFL, earning 13 trips to the Pro Bowl and taking home 8 Super Bowls. That list includes 2025 NFL kickers Daniel Carlson Jake Elliott, Ka'imi Fairbairn, Ryan Fitzgerald, Graham Gano, Matt Gay, Zane Gonzalez, Joshua Karty, Younghoe Koo, Jake Moody, Will Reichard, Cairo Santos and Andre Szmyt.
For more information regarding the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award, please visit LouGrozaAward.com, or follow @LouGrozaAward on X/Twitter for updates as they happen.  Additional information can be obtained by contacting Jared Fleet, Director of Event Operations at the Palm Beach County Sports Commission at (561) 233-3120 or jfleet@palmbeachsports.com.
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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. Visit NCFAA.org for more information.
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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.
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Harrington, who is 18-for-21 on field goals, is having one of Texas Tech's best single seasons through week 12 of the 2025 college football season, and one of the top seasons overall in the FBS, as acknowledged by the Groza committee. His 18 made field goals rank tied for 11th-most in the FBS in 2025.
Harrington is perfect from inside 40 yards this season, firing an accurate 11-for-11, while from 50+, he is 3-for-4 with a long of 58. Harrington's 58-yard field goal at Utah during week 4 of the season remains tied for the third-longest field goal made by any FBS kicker this season.
Within Texas Tech history, Harrington's 18 made field goals rank as the fifth-most in a single season, and his 58-yard made field goal is the second-longest in program history, behind Jonathan Garibay's 62-yarder in 2021. Harrington also set a Texas Tech single-game record with five successful field goals versus BYU. Harrington found the uprights from 47 yards to give Texas Tech its first points in the win and then connected again from 27, 39, 29, and 34 yards the rest of the way.Â
Harrington is a three-time Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week honoree this season after most recently earning the accolade following his five makes against BYU. He also picked up the award following Texas Tech's wins at Houston and Kansas State.
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Only five of this year's semifinalists have earned the honor before, led by Georgia junior Peyton Woodring, who has now made the list three years running. He's joined by Ole Miss junior Lucas Carneiro, Miami (OH) senior Dom Dzioban, and Kansas senior Laith Marjan, all repeating from last season, as well as Florida senior Trey Smack, who was a semifinalist in 2023. They're all chasing Hawaii senior Kansei Matsuzawa, whose 22-for-22 season puts him tied atop the FBS leaderboard in both made field goals and field goal percentage.Â
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Semifinalists will be voted on by a panel of more than 100 FBS head coaches, SIDs, media members, former Groza finalists, and current NFL kickers to select the three finalists. These finalists will be announced on Nov. 25 and honored at the 34th annual Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Awards Banquet on Dec. 8 in Palm Beach County. The same panel then selects the winner, who will be announced live on ESPN at the Home Depot College Football Awards Show on Friday, Dec. 12.
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About the Lou Groza Award
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.
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Since the first Lou Groza Award was handed out in 1992, 33 finalists, including 17 winners, have gone on to appear in the NFL, earning 13 trips to the Pro Bowl and taking home 8 Super Bowls. That list includes 2025 NFL kickers Daniel Carlson Jake Elliott, Ka'imi Fairbairn, Ryan Fitzgerald, Graham Gano, Matt Gay, Zane Gonzalez, Joshua Karty, Younghoe Koo, Jake Moody, Will Reichard, Cairo Santos and Andre Szmyt.
For more information regarding the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award, please visit LouGrozaAward.com, or follow @LouGrozaAward on X/Twitter for updates as they happen.  Additional information can be obtained by contacting Jared Fleet, Director of Event Operations at the Palm Beach County Sports Commission at (561) 233-3120 or jfleet@palmbeachsports.com.
Â
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. Visit NCFAA.org for more information.
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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.
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Players Mentioned
K
/ FootballA.J. Holmes Jr. Media Availability
Tuesday, November 18
Bryce Ramirez Media Availability
Tuesday, November 18
Terrance Carter Jr. Media Availability
Tuesday, November 18
Davion Carter Media Availability
Tuesday, November 18