Auburn hit 83% of his field goal attempts in 2023, but that number dipped to 64% in 2024.
AUSTIN, Texas — A familiar face on the Texas Longhorns football team is leaving the Forty Acres.
On Thursday, Longhorns kicker Bert Auburn announced that he would enter the NCAA transfer portal and play college football elsewhere next season.
Thank you Texas,” Auburn wrote on X Thursday. “Through all the ups and downs, these have been some of the best years. It’s been an honor to be a Longhorn! I will be entering the transfer portal with one year of eligibility remaining.”
Auburn had been a member of the Longhorns since the 2021 season and took over kicking duties on a full-time basis in 2022.
In 2022, his first season as the team’s starter, Auburn connected on 21-of-26 field goal attempts, a conversion rate of 80.8%. In 2023, his numbers improved, as he connected on 29-of-35 attempts for an 83% conversion rate.
In 2024, however, Auburn’s numbers took a substantial hit, as he only converted on 16-of-25 attempts for an unimpressive 64% field goal conversion percentage. His erratic performance eventually led to him being benched in favor of Will Stone in the Longhorns’ College Football Playoff semifinal loss to Ohio State. Stone also handled kickoff duties during the 2024 season.
Incredibly, Auburn never missed an extra point in his three seasons as the program’s starting kicker, going 178-for-178.
Auburn leaves the program as the Longhorns’ all-time leader in field goals made, with 66, and total points scored, with 376.
Auburn’s departure seemingly now clears the way for Stone to take over the Longhorns’ starting kicker moving forward, although as the spring transfer portal is currently open, it is possible that the program could try to add another kicker to the roster.