USC Kicker Ryon Sayeri Earns Second Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week Honor

LOS ANGELES, CA – For the second time this season, USC kicker Ryon Sayeri has been named Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week, this time for his clutch performance in the Trojans’ rain-soaked 26-21 upset victory over No. 21 Iowa on Saturday night.

The redshirt junior from Mission Viejo, Calif., accounted for nine of USC’s 26 points at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, drilling field goals from 40 and 28 yards and converting all three PAT attempts in treacherous, wet conditions. He also boomed six kickoffs for 388 yards (64.7 average) with three touchbacks, consistently pinning Iowa deep and limiting the Hawkeyes’ return game.

The weekly honor is Sayeri’s second of the year—he previously earned the award after USC’s 21-17 road win at Nebraska—and marks the fourth Big Ten weekly award for the Trojans in 2025. Quarterback Jayden Maiava (Offensive Player of the Week vs. Missouri State) and true freshman running back King Miller (Freshman of the Week vs. Michigan) have also been recognized this season.

Sayeri’s leg has been one of the most reliable weapons in college football this fall. He enters Week 13 ranked fifth nationally and second in the Big Ten with a 94.4% field-goal percentage (17-of-18). Perhaps most impressively, he is a perfect 6-for-6 on attempts against ranked opponents and 6-for-6 from 40 yards or longer. His 1.7 made field goals per game rank 13th in the FBS and second in the conference.

On kickoffs, Sayeri leads the Big Ten and is tied for eighth among Power Four programs with 54 touchbacks.

The No. 16 Trojans (8-2, 6-2 Big Ten) now turn their attention to a massive road test this Saturday, traveling to Eugene to face No. 6 Oregon (10-0, 7-0) in a 12:30 p.m. PT kickoff on FOX. A USC victory would keep the Trojans firmly in the College Football Playoff conversation and likely clinch a spot in the Big Ten Championship Game.

Sayeri and the Trojans’ special teams will once again be counted on in what figures to be another high-stakes, high-pressure environment at Autzen Stadium. If the first 10 games are any indication, the clutch kicker from West Hills, CA will be ready when his number is called.