Full Breakdown
Texas Leads Preseason All-America Selections as SEC Dominates the Field
8/19/2026, 1:58:05 AM
Texas Leads Preseason AP All-America Selections
The Associated Press released its 2026 preseason All-America first team on Tuesday. Texas topped every program with four Longhorns named to the first team: offensive lineman Trevor Goosby, wide receiver Cam Coleman, defensive lineman Colin Simmons, and linebacker Rasheem Biles. No other school matched that total. The Longhorns’ representation places the program at the forefront of preseason expectations for the upcoming season.
Conference Representation Overview
The SEC accounted for the majority of first-team honorees, contributing 14 of the 27 spots on the AP list. The Big Ten supplied eight first-team players, led by Oregon quarterback Dante Moore and two of his teammates. Defending champion Indiana, Georgia and Oklahoma each placed two players on the AP first team. In total, the AP selections feature athletes from 25 programs across the two teams.
Notable Player Honors
- Dante Moore, Oregon – Named a first-team quarterback by the AP and highlighted as a marquee talent for the Ducks.
- Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State – The only Ohio State player on the AP first team and the preseason offensive player of the year in the Big Ten.
- A’Mauri Washington, Oregon – Returned as a first-team defensive tackle after a strong 2025 campaign.
- Leonard Moore, Notre Dame – Secured a first-team cornerback spot, marking his second consecutive preseason selection.
CBS Sports Preseason All-America Team Highlights
A separate preseason All-America roster compiled by CBS Sports identified 54 selections (first- and second-team combined). The CBS panel reported 15 SEC first-team honorees and a total of 25 SEC selections, representing roughly 70 % of all picks. Texas again led overall with five Longhorns on the first team, while Oregon posted three first-team selections. The CBS release also named three unanimous honorees: Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, Texas edge rusher Colin Simmons, and Notre Dame cornerback Leonard Moore.
CBS Sports awarded Dante Moore the 2026 Preseason Player of the Year honor and recognized Dan Lanning, Oregon’s head coach, as Preseason Coach of the Year.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The two preseason lists differ on SEC first-team representation: the AP cites 14 SEC first-team players, whereas CBS Sports lists 15. Additionally, the AP’s total first-team count is 27, while CBS’s combined first- and second-team tally reaches 54 selections. No source provides a unified breakdown of the discrepancy, leaving the exact number of SEC first-team honorees ambiguous.
Impact and Outlook
The concentration of preseason accolades within the SEC and Texas suggests that both the conference and the Longhorn program will be focal points of national attention in 2026. Early recognition of players such as Dante Moore and Jeremiah Smith sets high expectations for individual performance, while the breadth of SEC representation may influence scheduling, media coverage, and recruiting dynamics throughout the season. The forthcoming regular-season schedule and the eventual release of the official AP All-America team in December will confirm whether preseason projections align with on-field results.
