GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida kicker Patrick Durkin has been named to The Lou Groza Award preseason watch list for the 2026 season, the Palm Beach County Sports Commission announced on Friday.

This is Durkin’s first time being named to the Lou Groza Award preseason watch list and it comes after a 2025 season that saw him named the American Special Team Player of the Year after making 25-of-28 (89.29%) field goal attempts and 41-of-42 extra point attempts. Durkin’s 89.29% field goal accuracy is the 2nd best among returnees who made at least 20 FGs is the FBS last season and his 25 field goals is tied for the 2nd most among returning FBS kickers.

 

The Lou Groza Award is awarded each year to the best placekicker in college football. The Award is named for National Football League Hall of Fame kicker Lou Groza, who played 21 seasons with the Cleveland Browns. Groza won four NFL championships with Cleveland and was named NFL Player of the Year in 1954. Although an All-Pro offensive lineman as well, Groza ushered in the notion that there should be a place on an NFL roster for a kicker.

 

Accomplishments are tabulated throughout the season and the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award will announce its 20 semifinalists on Tuesday, November 17th. From this list, a panel of more than 100 FBS head coaches, SIDs, media members, former Groza finalists, and current NFL kickers selects the top three finalists for the award, announced on Tuesday, November 24th. That same group then selects the national winner, who will be announced on Thursday, December 10th during the Home Depot College Football Awards on ESPN.

 

For more information about the Lou Groza Award and the full 2026 preseason watchlist, click here.

 

2026 Single-Game Tickets

Single-game tickets are now on sale for the 2026 Florida Football season under first-year head coach Jon Sumrall. Fans can purchase single-game tickets for home contests against FAU (Sept. 5), Campbell (Sept. 12), Ole Miss (Sept. 26), South Carolina (Oct. 10), Oklahoma (Nov. 7), and Vanderbilt (Nov. 21). Fans can also purchase tickets for the game against Georgia in Atlanta on Oct. 31.

 

2026 Season Tickets

Following 18-straight, sold-out games at The Swamp, season ticket packages  for the 2026 season are on sale now. The 2026 home schedule features six games against FAU (Sept. 5), Campbell (Sept. 12), Ole Miss (Sept. 26), South Carolina (Oct. 10), Oklahoma (Nov. 7), and Vanderbilt (Nov. 21).

 

2026 Gators Stadium Pass

The Gators Stadium Pass provides guaranteed admission to all six home games of this season. Seat locations are assigned at random during the week leading up to each game, offering pass holders a unique viewing experience from different areas of the stadium. To attend games with friends, accounts may be linked for the full season, or guest passes may be purchased on a per-game basis.

 

2026 Mini Plans

Build a custom mini plan to lock in the games that best fit your schedule.  Two-Game and Three-Game Packs are on sale now.