Watch UCLA and Utah get into head-scratching battle of college kickers

The UCLA Bruins and Utah Utes had trouble with their kickers from head-scratching range as the Pac-12 contenders battled at the Rose Bowl.

UCLA and Utah each had the opportunity to take control of the Pac-12 title race on Saturday but neither side had a kicker who played like it.

Kickers miss attempts all the time. College kickers even have a hashtag dedicated to pointing out how you can never trust #collegekickers.

However, there are some kicks you expect to just get hit. Like the one UCLA attempted from 21 yards with the chance to go ahead by seven points.

UCLA, Utah couldn’t buy a field goal

I’m not saying I could definitely make that kick, but I would have a chance at making that kick. That’s how easy that attempt should have been for a kicker at the college football level.

Maybe Utah’s kicker felt bad for UCLA because he too missed a 42-yard shot before the half that would have made it a one-point game.

UCLA’s Nicholas Barr-Mira did make three extra points in the first three quarters. He also averaged 49 yards on two punts. So it wasn’t a completely terrible outing for him.

Utah’s Jordan Noyes hit a 23-yard attempt in the second quarter.

When you’re kickers don’t get it done, you just have to make sure the game stays in the hands of the playmakers. For UCLA, that’s Dorian Thompson-Robinson. For Utah, it’s Cameron Rising. One of them will get the last laugh on Saturday.

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