David Olano rallies Texas A&M with 57-yard field goal

COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Soon after nailing the longest field goal of his collegiate career, Texas A&M‘s David Olano celebrated by pretending to make a basketball jump shot as a cadre of Aggies from both sides of the ball swarmed him.

“Honestly, it felt amazing,” Olano said after helping the Aggies beat Arkansas 34-7 to snap a two-game losing streak Saturday night at Kyle Field. “You want those moments, especially before the half, to go out there and double dip possibly and make a field goal and come out of the half knowing that we’re on offense. 

“But, man, that felt good. I knew I had the range for it. I love that coach (Mike Elko) trusted me with that. And obviously I love that I was able to convert it and help the team in that way going into the half.”

For the second week in a row, Texas A&M’s David Olano made a career-long field goal.
He made a 57-yarder in the final seconds of the first half against Arkansas a week after making a career-long 53-yarder against LSU. #GigEm #Colombia 🇨🇴 pic.twitter.com/1w8DF6QS14

— Our Esquina (@OurEsquina) October 4, 2026

The Aggies led 21-7 when Elko called a timeout to consider the wind and the elements before letting Olano try the 57-yard field goal.

Difficult weather hurdles 

Considering the heavy rain that pounded the Brazos Valley on Saturday, it was no easy feat. During pregame warmups, Olano found it difficult to gauge his range. The field was wet, making it difficult for him to find his footing.

Moreover, the footballs were heavy and damp because of the rain. Nonetheless, David Olano finished with two field goals and four PATs. 

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“Once (Elko) called that timeout, I tried to get in (Elko’s) peripheral and kind of nod my head,” Olano said. “I knew I wanted it. I knew I had it in me, but obviously when I heard my number called (for the) field goal, it was pretty surreal to go out there and hit that.”

The kick elicited a roar from the sellout crowd while also drawing several teammates to celebrate on the field with Olano.

“I had my helmet off, and I was screaming (and) I was freaking out,” said defensive lineman Landon Rink, one of the Aggies who ran on the field to celebrate with Olano at the end of the first half. 

Considering how well he has started this season, there should be little doubt that Olano’s basketball shot would have hit nothing but net. One week after hitting a 53-yard field goal against LSU for a new career long, the senior transfer from Illinois set a new personal best.

‘We have a David Olano’

“I love David Olano,” Rink said. “You know like the Avengers meme where (it says) ‘We have a Hulk?’  We have a David Olano.”

Olano has been one of the truly bright spots of Texas A&M’s difficult 2026 season. A week ago, he accounted for the Aggies’ six points in a disappointing 35-6 loss at LSU. Olano’s 57-yard field goal was the longest by a Texas A&M kicker since 1999. He’s also the Aggies’ first kicker to start his tenure at A&M 6-for-6 since 2018.

“He’s been really, really good,” Elko said of Olano. “He’s been really good since he got here.  Again, I thought that was a huge momentum swing for us to go out and make that kick, get it to three scores going into halftime and a lot of positive momentum for sure.”