ESPN's 2026 preseason college football All-America team

Set aside, if you can, the endless stream of court cases, rule changes and legislative bills that defined the first nine months of 2026. Because in a few weeks' time, college football will be back.

Indeed, the 2026 season is nearly here. Sixteen days out from North Carolina and TCU's Week 0 matchup in Dublin, familiar stars, coveted portal newcomers and breakout candidates alike are back in training camp. College football may look rather different in 2026 than it did a decade ago, but the return of fall Saturdays, packed stadiums and a new season feels just the same.

As such, it's time to unveil ESPN's 2026 preseason All-America team. We've almost certainly left off a few of your favorite players and opened the floor for debate. That's a good thing. Even more certain: Some of these picks are going to be misses. A year ago, only seven of the 26 first-team selections on ESPN's preseason list landed among our final first-team All-America picks in January.

Three players return from our 2025 postseason team: Notre Dame cornerback Leonard Moore, Indiana offensive tackle Carter Smith and Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith. Texas leads the way with five first-team selections (and that's without quarterback Arch Manning making the cut), followed by Georgia, Miami, Notre Dame, Ohio State and Texas Tech with two each.

OFFENSE

QB: Julian Sayin, Ohio State

Sayin took over as the Buckeyes' starter a year ago and immediately established himself as one of the best quarterbacks in the country. Prolifically accurate -- his FBS-best 77% completion percentage last fall ranks third in NCAA history -- Sayin threw for 3,610 yards and 42 touchdowns and flashed situational poise in his debut season. His third-down passing conversion rate of 47.8% trailed only those of USC's Jayden Maiava (48.5%) and Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza (48.1) among FBS quarterbacks with at least 250 attempts, per ESPN Research. Sayin will be tested by a more challenging schedule and a new system under offensive coordinator Arthur Smith this fall. But supported by elite pass catchers (see: Jeremiah Smith) and a promising running game, Sayin should be even better in 2026.

Second team: CJ Carr, Notre Dame

RB: Kewan Lacy, Ole Miss

Lacy emerged as a superstar last fall after transferring to Ole Miss from Missouri. He finished second nationally in rushing touchdowns (24) and third in rushing yards (1,567) while powering the Rebels to the College Football Playoff semifinals. The 5-foot-11, 205-pound back turned down interest from LSU and others to remain with Ole Miss in 2026. Elusive (FBS-best 109 forced missed tackles in 2025), durable (FBS-best 306 carries) and proven against elite defenses on the biggest stages, Lacy returns as perhaps the top running back in college football.

Second team: Ahmad Hardy, Missouri

RB: Jadan Baugh, Florida

Baugh put together a breakthrough sophomore season with the Gators in 2025 as the SEC's third-leading rusher with 1,170 yards and 10 total touchdowns on 5.3 yards per carry. He was a tough guy to bring down with his 81 forced missed tackles and 782 rushing yards after contact, according to ESPN Research, and Baugh led all conference backs with 33 receptions out of the backfield for 210 yards. He turned down significant pre-portal interest from SEC rivals to play for new Florida coach Jon Sumrall to keep powering the Gators' offense.

Second team: Mark Fletcher Jr., Miami

WR: Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State

A compelling case can be made that Ohio State's star pass catcher is the best all-around player in college football entering the season, regardless of position. Smith recorded 87 catches for 1,243 yards and 12 touchdowns last fall and returns for his junior season on the heels of back-to-back first-team All-America selections. Equipped with an elite combination of speed, explosiveness and size at 6-foot-3, Smith is a matchup nightmare for opposing defensive coordinators, a go-to target for Buckeyes quarterback Julian Sayin and one of the top prospects in the 2027 NFL draft class for good reason. Per ESPN Research, no current FBS pass catcher has logged more receiving yards (2,258) and touchdowns (27) than Smith since the start of the 2024 campaign.

Second team: Charlie Becker, Indiana

WR: Cam Coleman, Texas

The No. 1 player in ESPN's transfer rankings took his talents to Austin, Texas, this offseason to team up with Steve Sarkisian, Arch Manning and a Longhorns squad with national title ambitions. The 6-3, 200-pound playmaker and former five-star recruit caught 93 passes for 1,306 yards and 13 touchdowns over his two seasons at Auburn and led the SEC with 14 contested catches as a sophomore. Expect lots of acrobatic catches and highlight-reel moments out of Coleman as he looks to take the next big step in his career with Texas' loaded offense.

Second team: Nick Marsh, Indiana

TE: Terrance Carter Jr., Texas Tech

Carter stiff-armed the NFL draft to return for another season with the Red Raiders. The 6-2, 245-pound pass catcher has earned all-conference honors in each of the past two seasons, first at Louisiana in 2024 and again a year ago at Texas Tech, when Carter scored five touchdowns and ranked in the top five among FBS tight ends in receptions (55) and receiving yards (624). The Red Raiders relied heavily on Carter on third down last fall -- he led all Power 4 tight ends with 29 third-down targets, per ESPN Research -- and he should remain a reliable target for new starting quarterback Will Hammond.

Second team:Trey'Dez Green, LSU

OT: Trevor Goosby, Texas

Goosby put enough on tape last season as a first-team All-SEC selection to potentially become a first-round draft pick this spring. But the 6-7, 325-pound left tackle has started only 15 career games and knew another year of development and a strong year with Manning and the Longhorns could make him a top-10 pick. Goosby had the second-best pressure rate (1.5%) among SEC starting tackles last season with just one sack surrendered and two blown blocks in the run game, according to ESPN Research.

Second team: Jordan Seaton, LSU

OG: Kade Pieper, Iowa

The athletic 6-3, 298-pound Pieper made a big impression in his first season as a full-time starter with Iowa and its Joe Moore Award-winning offensive line. Pieper allowed five pressures and zero sacks over his 749 snaps at right guard and flashed serious athleticism as one of the Big Ten's best run blockers. Pieper took snaps at center in spring practice, and Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz trusts that he's capable of playing either role at a high level for the Hawkeyes this fall.

Second team: Greg Johnson, Minnesota

C: Drew Bobo, Georgia

The Bulldogs felt Bobo's absence after his season-ending left foot injury last November, particularly in the program's CFP defeat to Ole Miss. Bobo missed all of spring camp, but the 6-5, 305-pounder is back for his final year of eligibility, and Georgia is optimistic about his status for Week 1. When healthy, there are few better centers across the country than Bobo, who allowed just six pressures in 2025, trailing only Florida's Jake Slaughter (four) for second fewest among centers who played at least 600 snaps, per ESPN Research.

Second team: Iapani Laloulu, Oregon

OG: Anthonie Knapp, Notre Dame

Knapp was a Day 1 starter at left tackle for the Fighting Irish as a freshman in 2024 during their run to the national title game and already has 27 career starts under his belt. Now he's making the transition inside to left guard, a move that should highlight his toughness in the run game. The 6-5, 305-pound junior surrendered two sacks and had just four blown blocks in the run game for the Irish last season, according to ESPN Research.

Second team: Evan Tengesdahl, Cincinnati

OT: Carter Smith, Indiana

One of three offensive line starters back for the defending national champion Hoosiers, Smith is one of the nation's elite pass protectors at 6-5, 313 pounds. He has started 41 games at Indiana over the past three seasons, including a year ago when he made 16 starts and logged more snaps -- 997 -- than all but seven other FBS offensive linemen. Per ESPN Research, Smith allowed just nine pressures en route to Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year and consensus All-America honors last fall, the fewest among full-time left tackles nationally.

Second team: Trevor Lauck, Iowa

All-purpose: Malachi Toney, Miami

Toney wowed everybody in his true freshman campaign with the Hurricanes, proving to be an All-America-caliber offensive weapon from Day 1. The 18-year-old made everything look easy and impacted games in so many ways as a receiver (1,211 yards), rusher (113), punt returner (298) and even passer (two passing TDs). The 5-11 sophomore pairs serious speed with impressive toughness and contact balance. He led all FBS receivers with 109 receptions and 845 yards after the catch, but also forced 45 missed tackles, gained 300 receiving yards after contact and had zero drops through 16 games. He's one of the game's most feared playmakers and still has two more years in college to keep getting even better.

Second team: J'Koby Williams, Texas Tech

DEFENSE

Edge: Colin Simmons, Texas

Simmons, the FBS active career sack leader (21), has been one of college football's most productive edge rushers over the past two seasons. The former five-star prospect boasts an SEC-best 84 pressures since the start of his freshman campaign in 2024 and returns for his junior season as the conference's reigning sack leader after totaling 12 sacks and 15.5 tackles for loss last fall. Operating under new Texas defensive coordinator Will Muschamp, Simmons will once again have the attention of opposing offensive coordinators and NFL scouts alike in 2026 as the face of a potentially fearsome Longhorns defense.

Second team: Anthony Smith, Minnesota

DT: A'Mauri Washington, Oregon

Washington brings elite power and explosiveness to the middle of the Ducks' defense and put together a breakout year in his first season as a starter in 2025, recording 33 tackles, 15 pressures and 4.5 TFLs while leading all Big Ten defensive linemen with eight pass breakups. Washington opted to stay in school and keep building his draft résumé while playing on a star-studded D-line alongside returning starters Teitum Tuioti, Matayo Uiagalelei and Bear Alexander.

Second team: Will Echoles, Ole Miss

DT: Ahmad Moten Sr., Miami

Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor were dominant forces off the edge for the Hurricanes last season, but don't sleep on the impact Moten made up the middle. The 6-3, 300-pound senior is about to earn a lot more attention this fall. Moten compiled 31 tackles, 20 pressures, 9 TFLs and 4.5 sacks during Miami's run to the national title game and earned second-team All-ACC honors in 2025.

Second team: A.J. Holmes Jr., Texas Tech

Edge: Dylan Stewart, South Carolina

The 6-4, 245-pound pass rusher is one of the most athletically gifted players in the entire sport and should be an early first-round NFL draft pick next spring. His production dipped as a sophomore after a Freshman All-America campaign in 2024 as offenses keyed in on trying to contain him, but Stewart is a proven disruptor with 68 pressures and 22.5 tackles for loss over his first two seasons, per ESPN Research, and should continue to be a game wrecker this fall.

Second team: John Henry Daley, Michigan

LB: Rasheem Biles, Texas

Biles, a two-year starter at Pitt, entered the transfer portal after a prolific season in the ACC and is poised to be a major playmaker for new defensive coordinator Will Muschamp in Austin. The 6-1, 220-pound senior racked up 101 tackles, 17 tackles for loss and three defensive touchdowns (two on pick-sixes) last season for the Panthers. Biles closed out his time at Pitt with 16 stops, five TFLs and two sacks against East Carolina in the Go Bowling Military Bowl.

Second team: Rolijah Hardy, Indiana

LB: Xavier Atkins, Auburn

Keeping Atkins out of the transfer portal marked one of the Tigers' earliest offseason wins under first-year coach Alex Golesh. The 6-foot, 210-pound junior, who began his career at LSU, tallied 84 tackles (17 for loss) and nine sacks en route to first-team All-SEC honors in a breakout season at Auburn a year ago. In 2026, Atkins is back as one of few familiar faces and a central leader in a rebuilt defense under returning defensive coordinator DJ Durkin.

Second team: Kip Lewis, Oklahoma

LB: Sammy Brown, Clemson

Put simply, Brown was one of the most productive linebackers in college football a year ago. Operating alongside veteran captain Wade Woodaz, Brown accounted for a team-high 106 total tackles (13.5 for loss) with five sacks and 18 run stops, which tied for 10th among FBS linebackers last fall. A first-team All-ACC pick in 2025, the junior defender checks all the boxes. He returns as the face of coordinator Tom Allen's defense in a critical season at Clemson.

Second team: Whit Weeks, LSU

CB: Leonard Moore, Notre Dame

Moore, a former three-star recruit, is the definition of a lockdown cornerback. A unanimous All-American in 2025, Moore allowed 30 or more yards in a game just once last fall while playing the second-most snaps in press coverage (186) of any FBS defensive back. An even better illustration of his dominance: Fellow Irish starting cornerback Christian Gray was targeted 62 times last fall -- nearly double Moore's count of 33 -- after opposing teams simply stopped throwing in Moore's direction.

Second team: Brandon Finney Jr., Oregon

CB: Brice Pollock, Texas Tech

Texas Tech's epic transfer portal haul for 2025 featured David Bailey and five other NFL draft picks but also Pollock, a Mississippi State transfer who was an All-Big 12 cover man in his debut season in Lubbock. The 6-foot, 195-pound senior started all 14 games and tied for the conference lead with five interceptions while also recording 48 tackles and eight pass breakups for the nation's No. 3 scoring defense. Pollock bypassed the NFL to keep building his draft stock with a Red Raiders defense that has been restocked with more blue-chip portal additions.

Second team: Kelley Jones, Mississippi State

S: KJ Bolden, Georgia

Bolden played plenty as a freshman in 2024, then flourished across 14 starts last fall while filling the rather big shoes of two-time Georgia All-American Malaki Starks. The former five-star signee allowed just 10 receptions for 146 yards on 23 targets and finished as the Bulldogs' second-leading tackler (76) a year ago. Bolden's speed and defensive instincts make him an asset against the run too; his 37 tackles on running plays ranked 13th among SEC defensive backs in 2025.

Second team: Amare Ferrell, Indiana

S: Ty Benefield, LSU

Benefield has positioned himself to become one of the SEC's breakout stars this fall. He developed into a three-year starter at safety for Boise State, where he had 235 career tackles, 18 TFLs, 16 pass breakups and five interceptions. He earned defensive MVP honors in the Broncos' Mountain West championship victory in 2024 and played more than 1,000 snaps during the team's run to the College Football Playoff. Now he's hoping to make another playoff run with Lane Kiffin and the Tigers. The buzz out of Baton Rouge this spring was that Benefield quickly emerged as the best player on the field for Blake Baker's defense.

Second team: Bray Hubbard, Alabama

SPECIAL TEAMS

PK: Tate Sandell, Oklahoma

No one was better kicking from distance a year ago than Sandell, the UTSA transfer whose left leg (and short pants) helped power Oklahoma to its first playoff appearance since 2019. All told, Sandell converted on 24 of his 27 field goal attempts in 2025, leading the nation in made field goals of 40-plus (16) and 50-plus yards (eight) while averaging more yards per kick -- 42.3 -- than any FBS kicker with at least 20 field goal attempts. For that, Sandell became the first Sooner to win the Lou Groza Award, given annually to the nation's top place-kicker.

Second team: Lucas Carneiro, Ole Miss

P: Evan Crenshaw, Troy

Crenshaw offers plenty of power; his 42.81 net yards per punt ranked 13th among FBS punters with at least 10 attempts last fall. But placement is where the reigning Sun Belt Special Teams Player of the Year separates himself. Among those same punters, Crenshaw led the country in punts taken over inside the 20-yard line (30), pinning opposing offenses deep in their own territory on roughly 44% of his attempts. A Ray Guy Award finalist and Troy's first first-team All-American since 2007, Crenshaw returns as one of the sport's top punters.

Second team: Palmer Williams, Baylor

Returner: Ryan Niblett, Texas

The 5-foot-10 receiver and running back earned All-America honors last season for the game-changing plays he made for the Longhorns as a speedy return man. Niblett delivered a 75-yard punt return touchdown in the fourth quarter to close out an upset win over then-No. 6 Oklahoma. Then he topped that moment by scoring on a 79-yard punt return to send Texas' comeback win over Mississippi State to overtime. Niblett had four more punt returns of 40-plus yards on the year and finished No. 2 in FBS with 738 total return yards.

Second team: Vicari Swain, South Carolina

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