The Best of the Best in 2026
ESPN has released its 2026 preseason All-America team, and the list is loaded with familiar stars, coveted transfer portal additions, and breakout candidates. With 16 days until North Carolina and TCU kick off Week 0 in Dublin, the preseason honors provide a snapshot of the players who will define the 2026 college football season. Texas leads the nation with five first-team selections, followed by Georgia, Miami, Notre Dame, Ohio State, and Texas Tech with two each.
Offensive Stars
Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin headlines the offense after a prolific 2025 campaign in which he posted an FBS-best 77% completion rate (third in NCAA history), 3,610 passing yards, and 42 touchdowns. He is joined in the backfield by Ole Miss running back Kewan Lacy, who transferred from Missouri and finished second nationally in rushing touchdowns (24) and third in rushing yards (1,567). Florida's Jadan Baugh earned the second running back spot after rushing for 1,170 yards and 10 touchdowns in the SEC.
Jeremiah Smith and Cam Coleman Headline Receivers
Ohio State's Jeremiah Smith returns for his junior season as a two-time first-team All-American after recording 87 catches for 1,324 yards and 12 touchdowns last fall. He is the most productive active receiver in college football with 2,258 career receiving yards and 27 touchdowns. Texas wideout Cam Coleman, the No. 1 player in ESPN's transfer rankings, brings 93 catches and 1,306 yards from two seasons at Auburn to a loaded Longhorns offense. Texas Tech's Terrance Carter Jr. earned the tight end spot after returning for another season despite NFL draft interest.
Texas Dominates with Five Selections
Texas placed five players on the first team: offensive tackle Trevor Goosby, wide receiver Cam Coleman, edge rusher Colin Simmons (the FBS active career sack leader with 21), linebacker Rasheem Biles (a transfer from Pitt with 101 tackles and 17 TFLs), and returner Ryan Niblett (738 total return yards, No. 2 in FBS). Notably absent from the first team is quarterback Arch Manning, though he projects as one of the Heisman favorites entering the season.
Defensive Standouts
Notre Dame cornerback Leonard Moore, a unanimous All-American in 2025, returns as a lockdown defender who allowed 30 or more yards in a game just once last season. Oregon's A'Mauri Washington and Miami's Ahmad Moten Sr. anchor the interior defensive line, while South Carolina's Dylan Stewart brings elite athleticism off the edge. Clemson's Sammy Brown leads the linebacker corps after a 106-tackle, five-sack season. Georgia safety KJ Bolden and LSU safety Ty Benefield round out the secondary.
Special Teams Excellence
Oklahoma kicker Tate Sandell won the Lou Groza Award in 2025 after leading the nation in field goals of 40-plus (16) and 50-plus yards (eight). Troy punter Evan Crenshaw led the country in punts inside the 20-yard line (30) en route to first-team All-American honors.
What This Means for CFB 27
In College Football 27, these All-Americans represent the highest-rated players at their positions. Julian Sayin, Jeremiah Smith, and Arch Manning are among the elite players in the game. For Dynasty mode players, teams with multiple All-Americans — Texas, Ohio State, Georgia, and Notre Dame — offer the strongest rosters for immediate playoff runs. Building around elite receivers like Smith and Coleman is a proven strategy in CFB 27's Ultimate Team and Dynasty modes.
