The Associated Press just dropped its 2026 preseason All-America teams, and college football fans everywhere are probably already talking about the SEC’s massive haul. That league is absolutely stacked, claiming just over half of the 27 players on the list. But hold up, because even with all that conference dominance, two Big Ten guys are grabbing all the headlines as undisputed first-teamers.
The SEC’s Stranglehold: Half the Team!
Okay, so let’s be real: the SEC is already flexing. They just landed a staggering **14 players** on these preseason All-American squads, out of a total of 27. That’s *just over half* the entire list! We’re talking about offensive studs like Ole Miss running back Kewan Lacy and Missouri’s Ahmad Hardy, plus LSU’s Trey’Dez Green owning the tight end spot. Then you flip to defense and it’s more of the same: South Carolina’s Dylan Stewart wreaking havoc at EDGE, Auburn linebacker Xavier Atkins laying down hits, and the Georgia safety duo of KJ Bolden and Ellis Robinson IV locking things down. Alabama even snagged a spot with defensive back Bray Hubbard. This isn’t just a strong showing, it’s a full-on takeover before the season even starts. It tells you everything you need to know about the pure talent density down South. How are other leagues even supposed to compete with that kind of roster depth?
Big Ten’s Top Guns & Other Standouts
But hold up, because even with all that SEC hype, the Big Ten isn’t just rolling over. They’ve got two absolute superstars leading the charge on the first team: Oregon quarterback Dante Moore and Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith. These guys are the real headliners, pure and simple. Moore is a legit signal-caller, and Smith is a certified game-changer who will make defenses sweat every snap. Beyond those two, the Big Ten also features guys like Indiana offensive tackle Carter Smith and Cincinnati guard Evan Tengesdahl anchoring the offensive line. On defense, Oregon’s A’Mauri Washington is a beast at defensive tackle, and Iowa center Kade Pieper is holding down the middle. Indiana linebacker Rolijah Hardy and Oregon safety Koi Perich are also representing. These guys are getting the national recognition they deserve, and you can bet their respective teams are looking forward to them tearing it up this season. It’s not just about raw numbers, right? Sometimes it’s about who’s at the very top, and these two Big Ten stars are definitely there, ready to challenge that SEC dominance.
So yeah, the preseason rankings are out, the names are set, and the buzz is real. Now it’s time to see if these guys can live up to the hype on the field. College football is about to kick off, and you know we’ll be watching every single snap to see who lives up to that All-American billing. Get ready, because it’s going to be wild.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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