Ohio State showed up near the top of the preseason AP rankings, but the Buckeyes only placed two players on the Associated Press’ preseason All-American teams.
Jeremiah Smith and Luke Montgomery were the lone Ohio State names to crack the AP’s top groups for the 2026 season. Smith earned first-team honors at wide receiver, while Montgomery was listed on the second team.
Smith joined Miami’s Malachi Toney and Texas’ Cam Coleman on the preseason AP first team at wide receiver. Over his first two seasons in Columbus, he has piled up 163 catches for 2,558 yards and 27 touchdowns.
He was a unanimous All-American in 2025 after helping Ohio State win a national championship as a freshman in 2024. Now entering his third season, the two-time Big Ten Receiver of the Year is the early favorite for the Biletnikoff Award and is also aiming to reach Heisman Trophy finalist status.
Montgomery’s rise has been a little different, but just as important to Ohio State’s offense. He was placed on the preseason AP second team alongside Minnesota guard Greg Johnson, with Cincinnati’s Evan Tengesdahl and Houston’s Shadre Hurst on the first team.
Montgomery broke through late in his second season, rotating at guard with Austin Siereveld during Ohio State’s College Football Playoff title run. Last season, he started all 13 games at left guard and picked up second-team All-Big Ten recognition.
For all the Buckeyes’ star power, the AP left out quarterback Julian Sayin, even though he is college football’s only returning Heisman Trophy finalist. Sayin trailed Oregon’s Dante Moore and Ole Miss’ Trinidad Chambliss on the preseason first and second teams at quarterback.
A few more familiar Ohio State names were also absent, including Austin Siereveld, Carson Hinzman and Kenyatta Jackson Jr. The Buckeyes did not land a defensive player on either team after graduating five first-team All-Americans from last season’s roster, among them unanimous picks Caleb Downs and Kayden McDonald, along with Arvell Reese, Sonny Styles and Caden Curry.
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