Nolan Hauser kicked the Tigers back to life in Week 2, and now the ACC has put that on paper. The Clemson kicker went 5-for-5 on field goals against Georgia Southern, a performance that earned him Specialist of the Week honors Monday.
Hauser’s night was not just about making kicks. It was about making them count. He connected on a 50-yarder and a 49-yarder in the fourth quarter, both in pressure situations, as part of a perfect night. His other three field goals came from 20, 34 and 38 yards, all in the second quarter as Clemson built a 16-7 lead at halftime.
Five Field Goals, All Successful
Hauser finished with 16 points total. He converted an extra point attempt after Christopher Vizzina connected with T.J. Moore for a 10-yard touchdown pass, the Tigers’ only touchdown of the night. That made his fifth field goal the difference in the 22-7 win.
The five successful kicks tie a career-high for the junior from William Amos Hough High School in Cornelius, North Carolina. He also made five kicks in the Tigers’ 29-13 win at Florida State on Oct. 5, 2024.
The Record-Breaking Night Against SMU
Hauser’s history with the Tigers includes a moment that still carries weight. Later that year, he hit a record-breaking 56-yard field goal as time expired against SMU in the ACC title game.
The Fourth Quarter Comeback Kicks
The two longest kicks came in the fourth quarter, which is where the game mattered most. Both kicks were successful.
The Skid Snapped
Clemson lost to LSU 51-10 in Week 1. That loss left the Tigers 0-1 before Week 2. Hauser’s five successful kicks against Georgia Southern snapped that skid, and the Tigers won 22-7.
The Road Ahead
Clemson opens ACC play Saturday when North Carolina visits Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is noon ET, and the game will be televised on ESPN.
The Tigers are 1-1 after losing to LSU 51-10 in Week 1. The Georgia Southern win snapped that skid, and Hauser was the difference.
The Schedule Ahead
Clemson’s remaining games are listed below, with kickoff times noted where available:
- Sept. 19: vs. North Carolina, noon, ESPN
- Sept. 25: at California, 10:30 p.m., ESPN
- Oct. 3: vs. Miami, TBA
- Oct. 17: vs. Charleston Southern, TBA
- Oct. 24: vs. Virginia Tech, TBA
- Oct. 31: at Florida State, TBA
- Nov. 7: at Syracuse, TBA
- Nov. 14: vs. Georgia Tech, TBA
- Nov. 20: at Duke, 7:30 p.m., ESPN
- Nov. 28: vs. South Carolina, TBA
The schedule is packed, and every game carries weight.
Key Facts Box
- Field goals made: 5 of 5
- Career-high tied: 5 successful kicks
- Previous five-kick game: Oct. 5, 2024, vs. Florida State
- Record-breaking kick: 56 yards vs. SMU
- Next game: North Carolina, Sept. 19, noon ET
A Sign of What the Team Needs
Hauser’s performance against Georgia Southern was clutch. He made every kick he attempted, and he did it in moments that mattered.
The award is deserved, and it is a sign of how much the Tigers need him. His kicks kept the offense alive, and they gave the team a path to victory.
The season is young, and the road ahead is long. But after a night like this, the Tigers know what their kicker can do when the game is on the line.
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