Longhorns Kicker Bert Auburn Named Special Teams Player Of Week

Originally posted on FanNation Longhorns Country
By Cole Thompson | Last updated 11/6/23

Texas Longhorns kicker Bert Auburn has been stepping up in the biggest moments this season, but few were as influential as Saturday's performance at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium.

By no surprise, Auburn was honored for his efforts entering Week 10.

Auburn was named the Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week, the conference office announced on Monday. It is the first conference award of the season for Auburn.

Auburn booted four field goals in the 33-30 overtime win over Kansas State. His 49-yard attempt in the third quarter tied for the longest kick of his career. Auburn helped Texas retake the lead with 6:03 remaining in the fourth quarter with a 34-yarder. His 42-yard no-doubter in overtime ended up being the difference.

"We've got a lot of confidence in Bert," Texas defensive lineman Barryn Sorrell said. "I'm happy that he was able to show up when it mattered, and he's been showing up, so I don't expect anything less from him."

With the win, the No. 7 Longhorns (8-1, 5-1 Big 12) remain in the driver's seat to represent the conference in the Big 12 title game next month at AT&T Stadium. Oklahoma State, which defeated Oklahoma 27-24 in the final Bedlam Series showdown, now remains the only team tied with Texas for first place.

One could argue Saturday's overtime kick was the most influential kick during Auburn's Texas career. Last season, he made a 49-yard field goal with just over a minute left against No. 1 Alabama in Week 2, but the Longhorns squandered a chance to pull off the upset, allowing Bryce Young to set up a game-winning Will Reichard field goal.

Last month, Auburn drilled a 47-yarder with 1:17 that made him the talk of the Cotton Bowl in the Red River Showdown. That was before Oklahoma's Dillion Gabriel decided to deliver a Heisman-caliber moment with a 62-second scoring drive leading to a 34-30 comeback.

Following Saturday, Auburn has now made his last eight field goal attempts and also extended his streak of consecutive successful point after tries to 94 straight, the second-longest in program history. The junior has made 17 of 22 field goals in nine games, including two kicks of 49 yards.

The Longhorns travel to Fort Worth this Saturday, Nov. 11, to square off with TCU at Amon G. Carter Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. The game will be nationally televised on ABC.

This article first appeared on FanNation Longhorns Country and was syndicated with permission.

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