Ohio State fans watching the Ole Miss kicker casually drill 55-yarders. Many Buckeye supporters felt a sting of envy on January 1, 2026, as they watched Ole Miss placekicker Lucas Carneiro nail back-to-back long field goals in the Sugar Bowl against Georgia. He hit from 55 yards and then 56 yards early in the game. Both went straight through with room to spare.
The timing hit hard for Ohio State fans. Their team had just lost the Cotton Bowl to Miami the night before.
Kicker Jayden Fielding missed several attempts during the season, including key ones that hurt the Buckeyes in big games. Fans had complained a lot about his struggles with longer kicks. He never made one over 50 yards in his career.
Social media lit up with reactions from Ohio State supporters. Posts showed side-by-side clips of Carneiro’s easy makes next to Fielding’s misses. One common comment was about how casual the Ole Miss kicker looked warming up or during the game. People joked that he treated 55-yarders like extra points.
Ohio State ended the season after the 24-14 loss to Miami in the College Football Playoff quarterfinal. They started strong but couldn’t overcome turnovers and offensive issues. The kicking problems added to the frustration. Fans remembered misses from earlier games too, like in the Big Ten title loss.
Meanwhile, in the Sugar Bowl, Carneiro’s kicks gave Ole Miss an early lead. The 55-yarder set a new Sugar Bowl record at the time. Then he broke his own mark with the 56-yarder minutes later. Commentators noted his strong leg and accuracy from a distance.
Buckeye fans shared memes quickly. Some showed sad reactions or captions like “This is fine” with a dog in a burning room. Others posted about wishing their team had a kicker like that. A few kept it light, saying things like, “Can we borrow him next year?”
Kicking has been a sore spot for Ohio State lately. They score a lot of touchdowns, so they don’t attempt many field goals. That makes it harder to find reliable specialists, some say. Still, misses in close games stand out.
Ole Miss moved on in the playoff after the strong start against Georgia. The game stayed competitive, but those early points from Carneiro helped.
For Ohio State fans, the offseason started early. Talk already turns to recruiting and changes. Special teams get mentioned a lot. Seeing another team rely on a big-legged kicker just rubbed salt in the wound.
College football fans often notice these contrasts. One team’s strength highlights another’s weakness. On New Year’s Day, many in the Buckeye nation felt that directly.
The playoff games brought excitement overall. Upsets and strong performances kept viewers hooked. But for supporters of teams out early, small details like a long kick can linger.
As the tournament continues, kicking could play a role in other matches too. Wind, pressure, and distance test specialists. Carneiro passed his test with ease.
Ohio State looks ahead to next season. Fans hope for improvements everywhere, including on field goals.
