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Full Breakdown

2026 Preseason All-America Teams Spotlight Top College Football Talent

8/20/2026, 2:55:22 AM

Core Event: Preseason All-America Selections Unveiled

The USA TODAY Sports, Associated Press (AP) and CBS Sports panels have each released their 2026 preseason All-America teams, highlighting expected season leaders at quarterback, running back, receiver and defensive positions.

CBS Sports

Conference Representation & Overall Numbers

  • SEC dominance – The AP listed 14 of the 27 first-team spots for SEC schools; CBS reported 15 first-team selections and 25 SEC honorees overall.
CBS Sports
  • Big Ten presence – The AP featured eight first-team players from the Big Ten; CBS noted six first-team and 13 total Big Ten selections.
CBS Sports
  • Program totals – CBS tallied 25 programs among 54 picks, with Texas leading (five first-team selections) and Oregon, LSU and Miami (FL) each contributing four total picks.
CBS Sports

Key Player Spotlights

Quarterback

  • Dante Moore, Oregon – First-team by all three outlets; posted 3,565 passing yards and 30 touchdowns in 2025 after transferring from UCLA.
USA Today

Running Backs

  • Kewan Lacy, Mississippi – Unanimous first-team; 1,567 rushing yards and 24 touchdowns in 2025.
USA Today
  • Ahmad Hardy, Missouri – First-team from USA TODAY and AP; 1,649 yards at 6.4 yards per carry last season.
USA Today

Receivers & Pass-Catchers

  • Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State – Unanimous first-team wide receiver.
USA Today
  • Malachi Toney, Miami – First-team wide receiver and all-purpose honoree (CBS); 1,211 receiving yards in 2025.
CBS Sports
  • Cam Coleman, Texas – First-team all-purpose (AP).
ESPN

Offensive Line

  • Trevor Goosby, Texas – First-team offensive tackle (USA TODAY, AP).
ESPN
  • Carter Smith, Indiana – First-team offensive tackle.
USA Today
  • Kade Pieper, Iowa – First-team center (AP, CBS); shifted from guard for his inaugural season at the position.
ESPN

Defensive Front

  • Colin Simmons, Texas – First-team edge rusher (AP, CBS).
ESPN
  • A’Mauri Washington, Oregon – First-team defensive tackle (USA TODAY, AP, CBS).
ESPN
  • Rasheem Biles, Texas – First-team linebacker (USA TODAY, AP); 15½ tackles for loss and 12 sacks in 2025.
USA Today

Secondary

  • Leonard Moore, Notre Dame – Unanimous first-team cornerback.
ESPN
  • KJ Bolden, Georgia – First-team safety (USA TODAY, AP); 76 tackles and two interceptions in 2025.
USA Today

Specialists

  • Tate Sandell, Oklahoma – First-team kicker; 24 of 27 field goals made in 2025, eight beyond 50 yards.
USA Today
  • Evan Crenshaw, Troy – First-team punter; 45.7-yard average, best in Troy’s FBS history.
USA Today

Official Selections & Responses

USA TODAY’s panel consulted more than 20 college football writers and editors. The AP team was compiled by its Top 25 voting panel, and CBS used its own experts. Each organization presented the lists as previews of the season’s impact players and potential award candidates.

CBS Sports

Conflicting Reports & Gaps

  • First-team counts – AP reports 14 SEC first-team selections; CBS reports 15.
CBS Sports
  • Program representation totals – CBS provides a detailed conference breakdown, while the AP focuses on first-team distribution, leaving the total number of first-team honorees across all lists unclear.
CBS Sports

What’s Next

The full AP All-America team will be released in December, concluding the preseason award cycle. The highlighted players will be tracked as the season progresses, with postseason All-America honors awarded based on actual performance.

CBS Sports