Two-yard line, on the numbers with four seconds of hang time.
Ohio State expects a lot from most players that see the field on Saturdays, and the kickoff specialist is no different.
The goal for the kicker is to place the ball in the corner to cut the field in half, put it just shy of the goal line to force a return, and kick it high enough to allow your players enough time to get down the field to make the tackle.
The scheme is tried and true over the years and has led to a ton of hidden yardage for Urban Meyer coached teams, but the execution from the kicker isn't exactly easy, and we've seen some struggles this year, as well as
While many kickers around the nation are told to simply boot it into or through the end zone, Ohio State's kickers are aiming for what is basically a 5x5-yard box from about 65 yards away.
"We had that game won. Even if the field goal would have missed, we're still up by like, four points." – Sean Nuernberger on Penn State 2016
It's not easy – especially when you add wind into that equation – but Ohio State kicker Sean Nuernberger maintains that it's possible.
"It is realistic," Nuernberger said, mentioning that Tyler Durbin, Jack Willoughby and Kyle Clinton have all done it in the past.
"I think a lot of times you let those lines on the field get in your head and make it a lot harder than it is," Nuernberger said.
"And by 'people,' I mean, me and Blake," he added with a laugh.
Nuernberger said the kick just takes practice, and frankly, the kickers just hadn't had enough of it. He had never done kickoffs in his Buckeye career until now and true freshman Blake Haubeil was never asked to do anything like that in high school.
With the added emphasis during practice and the extra work during the bye week, he expects things to be where they need to be come Saturday. And with an electric returner like Penn State's Saquon Barkley, it's going to have to be.
More than that, special teams as a whole will have to be clicking on all cylinders against the nation's No. 2 team on Saturday, especially after a blocked punt and a blocked field goal were the difference in Penn State's 24-21 win last year.
"Obviously, I want us to win by 10 touchdowns, but if it does come down to me, I'm confident enough to get the job done."– Sean Nuernberger
"We had that game won," Nuernberger said. "Even if the field goal would have missed, we're still up by like, four points."
There's a chance that Saturday will once again come down to special teams, and Nuernberger is ready to win the game for his team, if it comes down to it.
"I think that's the thing that's different for me this year – the confidence level," Nuernberger said. "I think in the past, a couple of years ago where I'm like 'I don't really know if I want it to come down to me,' this year I'm confident enough."
Nuernberger said he's gotten much stronger in the offseason, coming off a groin injury last year, and its drastically improved his range. He said he feels confident on anything inside of 60 yards, adding that if he misses a live, 57-yard field goal in practice, it's a disappointment.
If he needs to kick a game-winner on Saturday, Nuernberger has both the leg and the confidence. Though, all parties hope it doesn't have to come to that, and the Buckeyes will celebrate a blowout win.
"Obviously, I want us to win by 10 touchdowns," he said. "But if it does come down to me, I'm confident enough to get the job done."
