Pitt K Ben Sauls named 'midseason Lou Groza Award winner'

PITTSBURGH Pitt senior kicker Ben Sauls, who is perfect on 45 placements this season, was lauded as the "midseason Lou Groza Award winner" by Pro Football Focus.

The sports analytics site highlighted "who deserves all of college football's major awards if the season ended today" in its midseason report.

Sauls was PFF's pick for college football's top kicker.

Sauls is yet to miss a kick in 2024, converting 12 of 12 field goals and each of his 33 extra-point tries for a team-leading 69 points.

He's been instrumental for a Pitt offense that ranks sixth nationally in scoring at 40.9 points per game.

He has made 14 consecutive field goals dating back to the 2023 season, eclipsing the 29-year-old school record set by Chris Ferencik in 1995.

Sauls is 4-for-4 on field goals of 50 or more yards this season, booming kicks of 58 (tied for longest in Pitt history), 57, 53 and 50.

In Pitt's 17-15 win over California Oct.

12, his 58-yarder provided the winning margin.

He also played a crucial role in Pitt's 28-27 win over Cincinnati by kicking three field goals, including the game-winning 35-yard try with 17 seconds left, to help the Panthers complete their largest comeback in 53 years.

Sauls has been a vital performer for a Pitt team that is 7-0 for the first time since 1982.

The No.

18 Panthers play at No.

20 Southern Methodist at 8 p.m.

Saturday.

The game will be televised by ACC Network.

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