Buehler attended Santa Ana College, a junior college in Santa Ana, California, for the 2005-2006 school year and was a student and a letterman in football. In football, he played kicker, safety, goal-line running back and a gunner on punts.
Buehler was recruited to USC for multiple positions, and in his first season with the Trojans (2006) was designated as a back-up placekicker, fullback and safety while playing coverage on special teams.
At the end of his rookie year, Buehler finished the regular season with 29 touchbacks, the most of all NFL kickers.