Keltner Remains Perfect on a Busy Return to America’s Greatest Homecoming

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STILLWATER — Although this is his first year as a Cowboy, this wasn’t the first time Sam Keltner took in American’s Greatest Homecoming.

Keltner’s dad and sister both attended Oklahoma State, and he said his mother sent him a picture on Monday from an OSU homecoming that Keltner attended when he was 12 or 13 years old.

Well, flash forward a few years later, and Keltner was a Cowboy hero in front of the rowdy homecoming crowd. As part of the Cowboys’ 57-24 victory against Colorado, Keltner went 5-for-5 on field-goal attempts.

“It’s really special,” Keltner said. “I wish I had the opportunity to experience it fully last night, but even just sitting on the balcony in The Atherton looking out was special.”

Keltner is now a perfect 18-for-18 on the year.

With his 17th field goal, he tied Dan Bailey for the longest streak of makes to start a season in OSU history. With his 18th field goal, he tied Matt Ammendola for the longest streak of makes in OSU history, regardless of when they were kicked.

Like a baseball pitcher on a heater, Keltner said not a lot of people talk to him on the sideline, leaving him to live in his own world. He said he tries not to be overly superstitious, but in his first night in The Atherton before a game, he took the twin bed in the room, leaving Joseph Kim to get the queen. Keltner said he has stuck with that.

“I don’t think could’ve gone much better on paper,” Keltner said. “I try not to look at it because — I don’t know, people are superstitious. I’m not superstitious — a little stitious, that’s right. I do wash them, but I wear the same pair of socks every game. Small things like that.”

His five makes Saturday tie the program record for makes in a game.

“I was joking that I might get overtime pay or something like that,” Keltner said. “But no, it’s the same. … Against Murray State, I kicked as many balls, but they were extra points. It’s more spread out. I treat all those the same, so it wasn’t that bad. I felt worse for my guy Joe (Kim), who is on kickoff, and he had to go out there and kick that ball 75 yards every time. That’s a little bit more tedious than what I do.”

Keltner was SMU’s primary kicker last season after redshirting with the Mustangs in 2024. In his year of playing, he went 14-for-20 on field-goal attempts, hitting a career-long 51-yarder.

But it clearly wasn’t as good a year as what he’s having now. His coach credits the work Keltner has put in as to why he is having the success he is this season.

“He’s a professional in everything he does,” Eric Morris said. “It’s like the way he prepares, he’s one of the guys. Some teams I’ve been a part of, kickers and specialists are kind of their own little posse. They kind of hang with themselves. That’s not the case here. Sam’s one of the guys, just like all the rest of our guys are. He practices his tail off and goes out there and executes his job. I’m proud of him. He’s definitely a weapon for us.”

Keltner entered Saturday as one of seven FBS kickers to be perfect with double-digit attempts. Of that group, his 13 makes were the most. It’s hard to imagine anyone caught him after Keltner hit five on Saturday.

He doesn’t have any 50-yarders on his resume this season, but he did hit his second 47-yarder against the Buffaloes. But given his perfect resume, it’s hard to imagine Keltner won’t be in the conversation for the Lou Groza.

Bailey is the only Cowboy to win that award, doing so in 2010. Keltner, who is from Keller, Texas in the DFW area, grew up a fan of the Dallas Cowboys so, he’s plenty familiar with the all-time Poke.

“I walk by his Lou Groza every day,” Keltner said. “So I know a lot about that guy and just even being in the same conversation as him is pretty cool.”