Ohio State Kicker Vacancy Triggers Rapid Search After Cotton Bowl Misses

After losing Jayden Fielding to expired eligibility plus Jackson Courville to the transfer portal, Ohio State has launched an urgent search for a reliable leg.

Overview

Missed kicks loomed large in the Buckeyes’ Cotton Bowl loss to Miami, renewing scrutiny of a problem that has dogged recent postseason runs.
Backup Jackson Courville announced on Jan. 2 that he entered the transfer portal with two years of eligibility remaining.
With Fielding departing and Courville leaving, Ohio State enters 2026 without an incumbent kicker.
The staff offered a scholarship on Jan. 1 to 2026 prospect Jacobo Echeverria, a highly rated high-school kicker who went 17-for-18 on field goals as a senior.
Reporting indicates Ohio State is expected to explore transfer options at kicker, with media speculation mentioning candidates such as former Illinois standout David Olano.