Ozick Named to Lou Groza Award Watch List

IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa fourth-year kicker Eli Ozick has been named to the 2026 Lou Groza Place-Kicker Award Watch List, the Palm Beach County Sports Commission announced on Friday. In its 35th season, the award recognizes the nation’s best place-kicker.

Ozick joins the Hawkeyes after being named a finalist for the Fred Mitchell Award, given to the top kicker outside the FBS. The Liberty, Missouri, native earned second-team Associated Press FCS All-America and All-Missouri Valley Football Conference First Team accolades in 2025. His 16-for-18 season was the second-most accurate in North Dakota State history. Ozick has made 54-yard field goals in each of the last two seasons, with those kicks tied for the second-longest in Bison program history.

The watch list highlights the 35 best returning kickers in the country. All FBS kickers remain eligible to be selected for weekly and postseason honors, with 20 semifinalists to be announced on Nov. 17 by the Groza Committee. 

From this list, a panel of FBS head coaches, SIDs, media members, former Groza finalists, and current NFL kickers will select the top three finalists for the award, announced on Nov. 24. That same group then selects the national winner, who will be announced on Dec. 10 during the College Football Awards on ESPN.

The award is named for Pro Football Hall of Fame kicker Lou Groza, who played 21 seasons with the Cleveland Browns. Groza won four NFL championships with Cleveland and was named league player of the year in 1954. 

The Hawkeyes open the 2026 season on Sept. 5 against Northern Illinois at Kinnick Stadium. Kickoff is set for 3:15 p.m. (CT).

HAWKEYES ON 2026 WATCH LISTS
* Trevor Lauck – Outland Trophy
* Eli Ozick – Lou Groza Award
* Kade Pieper – Outland Trophy | Rimington Trophy
* Zach Lutmer – Nagurski Trophy
* DJ Vonnahme – Mackey Award