Junior Jayden Fielding has been Ohio State’s starting kicker all season. But head coach Ryan Day opened up a kicking competition after Fielding missed multiple field goals in the Buckeyes loss against Michigan.
Day met with the local media on Wednesday in his final media availability before kickoff and declined to comment on whether Fielding or Austin Snyder would be Ohio State’s starting place kicker against Tennessee in the first round of the College Football Playoffs.
Fielding went one-for-three on field goal attempts in Ohio State’s 13-10 loss against rival Michigan. The junior missed a 38-yard field goal with the Buckeyes trailing 7-3 in the first half before missing a 34-yard field goal with the game tied 10-10 late in the third quarter.
Over the course of the season, Fielding has been solid for the Buckeyes. He’s nine-of-12 on field goal attempts and a perfect 54-of-54 on point after attempts. Fielding is two-for-two on 20-29 yard field goals, two-of-four on 30-39 yard field goals and five-of-six on 40-49 yard field goals. He has not attempted a field goal over 50 yards.
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Snyder has received very limited work this season. He has not attempted a single field goal but has made all three of his point after attempts.
While Day has not committed to who will start for Ohio State against Tennessee, Fielding is the most logical pick due to his solid performance most of the season and Synder’s lack of experience.
Kicking in the cold temperature could be a key factor in the first round playoff matchup. Tennessee kicker Max Gilbert has been solid for most of the 2024 season after struggling for a stretch in the middle of the year. The first-year starting kicker is 19-of-25 on field goal attempts with three of his misses coming from over 50 yards.
Kickoff between Tennessee and Ohio State is at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday night. Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit and Holly Rowe are on the call for both ABC and ESPN.
