When Jaguars kicker Cam Little booted a 70-yard field goal on Saturday, it did not break the official NFL record, because preseason stats don’t count. But it did break the unofficial record for the longest field goal ever kicked in any football game at any level.
Little’s 70-yard field goal was one yard longer than the NCAA record of 69 yards , set by Abilene Christian’s Ove Johansson in 1976.
Johansson was aided by a strong wind at his back. In fact, it was such a windy day across Texas that on that same day in 1976, Texas A&M’s Tony Franklin hit both a 65-yard field goal and a 64-yard field goal. Johansson also had the benefit that in those days, college football holders could place the ball on a tee for field goals, which elevated the ball and promoted longer kicks.
Little ha