OU football kicker Tate Sandell announces 2026 return to Sooners

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NORMAN — Tate Sandell will return.

OU football's first-ever Lou Groza Award winner announced Sunday he'll be back with the Sooners in 2026. "One last ride," he wrote on X.

The SEC Special Teams Player of the Year and All-SEC First Team selection, Sandell turned in the best regular season performance by a kicker in program history.

Including the College Football Playoff, Sandell finished 24 for 27 on field goal tries. He also set an OU and single-season SEC record by making 23 straight.

During the 2025 season, Sandell set or tied eight career or single season program, conference FBS or stadium records.

The Port Neches, Texas, native transferred to the Sooners last offseason from UTSA.

Colton Sulley covers the Oklahoma Sooners for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Colton? He can be reached at csulley@oklahoman.com or on X/Twitter at @colton_sulley. Support Colton's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OU football kicker Tate Sandell announces 2026 return for final season

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