Nebraska Kicker Tristan Alvano Plans to Enter Transfer Portal After Tumultuous Freshman Season
When the 2023 season kicked off, Tristan Alvano was one of three contenders vying to be Nebraska’s starting placekicker. Now, as the year winds down, he’s preparing to enter the transfer portal - a decision that reflects how much can change in just a few months of college football.
Alvano, a freshman from Omaha, came into the program with high expectations after a standout high school career. But his debut season in Lincoln was anything but smooth.
Nebraska’s kicking game struggled throughout the year, and Alvano found himself in the middle of it. He went 8-for-15 on field goal attempts and missed four extra points - numbers that made it tough to earn or maintain the staff’s full trust.
The Huskers cycled through multiple kickers during the season, trying to find consistency in a phase of the game that often flies under the radar - until it doesn’t. Alvano was part of that rotation, but the inconsistency and pressure clearly took a toll. By the end of the season, it was clear that Nebraska’s special teams needed a reset, and Alvano’s decision to explore new opportunities is part of that broader shift.
The move doesn’t come as a total surprise. Nebraska has already been active in the portal and on the recruiting trail, including at the specialist positions. With a new wave of competition likely coming in, Alvano’s path to reclaiming the starting job in 2024 looked increasingly crowded.
Still, this is a player with talent. His leg strength and high school résumé - including a game-winning field goal in a state championship game - suggest he could thrive in the right situation. Sometimes a change of scenery is what a young kicker needs to reset mentally and physically.
Alvano’s departure adds another layer to what has already been a busy offseason for Nebraska. Head coach Matt Rhule and his staff are navigating a flurry of roster movement - both incoming and outgoing - as they look to reshape the program in year two of the Rhule era. With Alvano now in the portal, the Huskers will likely be in the market for another kicker, whether through recruiting or the portal themselves.
For Alvano, the next chapter is still unwritten. But his decision to transfer is a reminder of how quickly things evolve in college football - especially in today’s era of immediate eligibility and constant roster churn.
He may not have found his footing in Lincoln, but the potential is still there. Now it’s just a matter of finding the right fit to unlock it.