2026 College Football All-Americans (Graphic by Google and Author)
The 2026 season is here, and we take a look at who the All-Americans are at the start of another great year of college football!
Offense
Quarterback: Dante Moore, Oregon, Senior
It’s poised to be a great year of quarterbacks in college football. Ohio State’s Julian Sayin, Indiana’s Josh Hoover, Washington’s Demond Williams, USC’s Jayden Maiava (and that’s just the Big Ten), Georgia’s Gunnar Stockton, Texas’ Arch Manning, Ole Miss’ Trinidad Chambliss, BYU’s Bear Bachmeier, Utah’s Devon Dampier, Miami’s Darian Mensah, Notre Dame’s CJ Carr, and many, many more. There’s a case to be made for all of them! I went with Moore because of how well he played against everyone not named the 2025 national champions, Indiana, last season. It’s going to be fun this season to see who the best quarterback in the country is.
Running Back: LJ Martin, BYU, Senior
Running back is also stacked in 2026 (if not as much as quarterback). Martin, Lacy, Missouri’s Ahmad Hardy, Oklahoma State’s Caleb Hawkins, and Texas Tech’s Cameron Dickey are all top-notch. I am a big believer in LJ Martin. Martin is going behind an experienced offensive line, and has an elite young quarterback in the backfield with him. The Big 12 Offensive Player of 2025 will grab national attention in 2026.
Running Back: Kewan Lacy, Ole Miss, Junior
Martin and Lacy have an edge over all the other great backs because they have elite quarterbacks in the backfield with them, and those quarterbacks are rushing threats, too. Lacy returns from a 1,567-yard and 24-touchdown season. Ole Miss has a tough schedule, so the pressure will be on Lacy to repeat that fantastic season to get Ole Miss back to the College Football Playoff.
Tight End: Brody Foley, Louisville, Senior
Louisville has a tough game right out of the gate against Ole Miss. If they can upset Ole Miss and get a big non-conference victory for the ACC, Foley will be a reason they get it done. The transfer from Tulsa will be a key part of Louisville’s offense, especially the way Jeff Brohm likes to pass the football. Foley will likely be quarterback Lincoln Kienholz’s favorite target and a difference maker for the Cardinals.
Wide Receiver: Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State, Junior
If Ohio State lets him cook, Jeremiah Smith can become the first wide receiver to win the Heisman since Devonta Smith in 2020. The Buckeyes tend to protect their stars, even to a fault. Coach Day saves his stars for the games after Thanksgiving. Last year, their slow, reserved play cost them in the College Football Playoffs. If they take a more aggressive approach this season and try to keep themselves in fighting trim every week, Smith can and will win the Heisman and make an argument for being the best wide receiver in college football history.
Wide Receiver: Charlie Becker, Indiana, Junior
Miami’s Malachi Toney could have easily taken this slot, too. I went with Becker because of how big he was for Indiana in the postseason last year and how I think Indiana is in a better spot than Miami. Josh Hoover has proven himself more than Darian Mensah, so that’s why Becker gets the edge for this season. I’d be surprised if it isn’t Smith, Becker, or Toney who wins the Biletnikoff Award this season for wide receiver of the year.
Offensive Tackle: Carter Smith, Indiana, Senior
Smith has been a stalwart for the Hoosiers’ offensive line for years. He’s about to start his fourth year at left tackle for Indiana. Curt Cignetti and Fernando Mendoza don’t get the legendary status they have without a player like Carter Smith, who has been a Hoosier from day one and has put in the work. The consensus 2025 All-American and 2025 Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year will likely repeat both feats in 2026 and will try to lead the Hoosiers to do the same as national champions.
Offensive Guard: Anthonie Knapp, Notre Dame, Junior
Jeremyiah Love would tell you how well Anthonie Knapp has blocked for him the past two seasons. Knapp has been a big part of Notre Dame’s success in running the football and in protecting quarterbacks. CJ Carr is definitely glad to have this stellar junior from Georgia protecting him. The skill players get the love, but guys in the trenches make it happen. Knapp and his fellow linemen are as much of a reason why Notre Dame is a contender this year as their star quarterback and talented young head coach are.
Center: Carson Hinzman, Ohio State, Senior
Hinzman has been flying under the radar for a long time, but he’s been very good. He was Ohio State’s starting center for all of 2023. In 2024, he was the fireman on the offensive line for the national champions. He would move wherever they needed him to when injuries happened, and he kept that line from missing a beat and winning a title. He was the center for the Buckeyes all of last year as well. Ohio State’s interior line has been a strength for the team in the past three seasons, in a big part because of Hinzman. That will be the case again in 2026, and that makes Hinzman an all-American.
Offensive Guard: Luke Montgomery, Ohio State, Senior
Luke Montgomery has been another important, solid force for Ohio State. Like Knapp and Hinzman, he’s been a huge part of the tremendous success his team has had the past two seasons, and will be a big factor for success this year, too. The past two seasons have seen the Buckeyes have their best offensive lines of the Ryan Day Era, and it’s started in the interior with Hinzman and Montgomery. They have both been good for a very long time and will do wonders for Bo Jackson and Julian Sayin this fall.
Offensive Tackle: Jordan Seaton, LSU, Junior
LSU is facing a lot of question marks in year one of Lane Kiffin’s time as their head coach. Sam Leavitt had success at quarterback at Arizona State, but it’s uncertain how well he and Kiffin will do in their first years in Baton Rouge. One thing they won’t have to worry about is left tackle on the offensive line, and that has to be a huge relief. All-American Jordan Seaton will protect the blindside for LSU and be a huge strength to an offense that will have to quickly find its footing.
Defense
Defensive End: Colin Simmons, Texas, Junior
Simmons has been an impact player from day one in his freshman season. He’s only improved every single game and will be a first-round draft pick in April. Of all the talented players Texas has this year, and not just on their great defense, Simmons may be the best. He worries me for when my Buckeyes play in Austin in a couple of weeks. In two seasons, he’s had 21 sacks and 29.5 tackles for a loss. There’s no doubt that if he stays healthy, he’ll be an All-American at the end of the season, too.
Defensive Tackle: AJ Holmes Jr., Texas Tech, Senior
Another veteran in the trenches who has been an anchor point and strength for his teams for a while. Holmes has 22.5 career tackles for a loss and 9 career sacks. Last year he improved upon his game by defending passing lanes, deflecting four passes. He’s a big reason Texas Tech’s defense dominated the Big 12 in 2025 and will lead the Red Raiders in their efforts for back-to-back conference championships and back-to-back playoff berths.
Defensive Tackle: David Stone, Oklahoma, Junior
Stone is one of those players that caught my attention as a recruit and freshman. Stone doesn’t get a lot of glamorous stats, but he just stops the middle like a wall (pun intended)! Any team would love to have him to lead their defense in defending against the running game. A player like him that commands so much interior attention creates openings for linebackers and defensive ends on the edge, too. The Sooners have a great one here.
Defensive End: Anthony Smith, Minnesota, Senior
Anthony Smith is one of those rare defensive linemen who can play just about anywhere on the line. He has the size and strength to play inside and the speed and moves to play on the edge; He rushes the passer and stops the run. He does it all for the Golden Gophers. Last year he had 12.5 sacks and 17.5 tackles for a loss. His career totals are 19.5 sacks and 31 tackles for a loss. Smith also has tremendous loyalty. He likely could have gotten a large paycheck and played for a top-ten team, but he chose to stay in Minnesota and make his team the best they can be.
Linebacker: Isaiah Glasker, BYU, Senior
Many people may not even know Isaiah Glasker’s name, but he’s been a great force on the defense for BYU. The Cougars have had back-to-back 11-plus win seasons because of their great defenses, and Glasker has been a vital part of that unit. He’s got 23 tackles for a loss, 6.5 sacks, and 5 interceptions as BYU has gone 23-4. He’ll have a great season as BYU competes for the Big 12 championship.
Linebacker: Rolijah Hardy, Indiana, Junior
A critical machine for the 2025 national champions, Hardy is back for another season in Bloomington. Last year, while winning it all, he had 102 tackles, 15 tackles for a loss, and 8 sacks. I expect his numbers to be even better this season and for Hardy and the Hoosiers to be competing for back-to-back national titles.
Linebacker: Xavier Atkins, Auburn, Junior
Atkins had a huge season for Auburn last year. He recorded 87 tackles, 60 of them solo, 17 tackles for a loss, and 9 sacks. New Tigers head coach Alex Golesh is thrilled to have this elite player on his defense in his first-year coaching in the SEC. Another season like last year and Atkins will easily be a first-round draft pick in April.
Defensive Back: AJ Harris, Indiana, Senior
Harris has been a journeyman in his college career. He started at Georgia, then spent a couple of seasons at Penn State, and now is at Indiana. I’m going out on a limb, but I’ve seen flashes of brilliance from Harris. His being at Indiana will help him reach his full potential and follow in the footsteps of D’Angelo Ponds.
Defensive Back: Leonard Moore, Notre Dame, Junior
Leonard Moore has been an All-American since the moment he stepped onto a college football field for Notre Dame. He was a freshman All-American, taking Notre Dame to the national championship game with 48 tackles, 2 interceptions, and 11 passes defended. His sophomore season was even better with 31 tackles, 5 interceptions, and 7 passes defended. Moore locking down opposing receivers will take Notre Dame far in 2026.
Defensive Back: Koi Perich, Oregon, Junior
A Big Ten star in his first two football seasons when he played for Minnesota. Perich was a highly sought-after player in the transfer portal this year and with good reason. Oregon getting him to stay in the conference and bolster their secondary is a tremendous addition to an already strong defense.
Defensive Back: Evan Johnson, BYU, Senior
Johnson burst onto the scene last year for BYU. He was a lock-down, sure-tackling corner for the Cougars. Johnson had 47 tackles, 38 of them solo. He also led the team with five interceptions. BYU is making a push to win the Big 12 and make the College Football Playoff this season, a big part of that being likely to happen is because of defenders like Glasker and Johnson.
Special Teams
Kicker: Lucas Carneiro, Mississippi, Senior
Arguably the best kicker in college football in 2025, Pete Golding and the state of Mississippi are thrilled to have Lucas Carneiro for one more season. If Ole Miss is to get back to the College Football Playoff for the second straight season, their stars like Carneiro, Lacy, and Trinidad Chambliss will need to be elite through a tough schedule.
Punter: Palmer Williams, Baylor, Senior
Palmer Williams has been flipping the field in Waco, Texas for three seasons and will do so again for his fourth this fall. Williams has punted the ball 105 times for the Baylor Bears in three seasons, and has averaged a whopping 46.6 yards per punt across his career. No one likes to punt, but when Baylor has to, Williams does it better than anyone else.
Returner: Ryan Niblett, Texas, Junior
Another player who has me worried as a Buckeye fan for September 12th in Austin. Niblett is a threat to make huge plays on special teams. Last year, he had over 800 return yards for Texas. He was crucial with punts returned for touchdowns in Texas victories over Oklahoma and Mississippi State last year. He’ll break one or two the same way this year at some point in time. I just hope it’s not against my team.
