College Football’s Consensus All-American Team: Breaking Down the Best of 2025
With awards season in full swing and the Heisman Trophy looming, the college football world is buzzing with debate-and nowhere is that more evident than in the race to define this year’s All-American roster. Five major outlets-CBS Sports, USA Today, On3, The Athletic, and Pro Football Focus-each dropped their own All-American teams, and when you stack them side-by-side, a clear picture starts to form.
Thirteen players emerged as consensus selections, earning nods across all five lists. The rest?
Well, that’s where things get interesting.
Let’s dive into the consensus picks, the positional debates, and the players who just missed the cut but made strong cases of their own.
The Consensus Selections: 13 Players Who Left No Doubt
These are the guys who didn’t just have great seasons-they dominated the conversation.
Offense:
- QB: Fernando Mendoza (Indiana)
- RBs: Jeremiyah Love (Notre Dame), Ahmad Hardy (Missouri)
- WRs: Jeremiah Smith (Ohio State), Makai Lemon (USC)
- TE: Eli Stowers (Vanderbilt)
Defense:
- EDGE: David Bailey (Texas Tech), Cashius Howell
- IDL: Kayden McDonald (Ohio State)
- LBs: Jacob Rodriguez (Texas Tech), Arvell Reese (Ohio State), CJ Allen (Georgia)
- CBs: Leonard Moore (Notre Dame), Mansoor Delane (LSU)
These 13 players were consensus picks-unanimously selected by all five outlets. And when you look at the seasons they put together, it’s hard to argue. From Smith and Lemon torching secondaries to Bailey and Howell wrecking backfields, these names were etched into the All-American conversation from the moment the season hit its stride.
Quarterback: Mendoza vs. Pavia
This year’s quarterback debate came down to two names: Fernando Mendoza and Diego Pavia. Mendoza got the nod from USA Today, The Athletic, and PFF, while CBS and On3 backed Pavia. That split tells you just how close this race was.
Mendoza ultimately took the consensus spot, and it’s easy to see why. He’s been at the heart of the No. 1 team in the country and is firmly in the Heisman mix. Pavia had a stellar season in his own right, but Mendoza’s combination of production and team success gave him the edge.
Offensive Line: Plenty of Talent, Not Much Consensus
No position group sparks more debate than the offensive line-and this year was no exception.
- Tackles: Spencer Fano (Utah) and Carter Smith (Indiana) earned the two consensus spots, edging out Miami’s Francis Mauigoa in a tight three-man race.
- Guards: Emmanuel Pregnon (Oregon) and Olaivavega Ioane (Penn State) locked down the guard positions, though Beau Stevens (Iowa), Febechi Nwaiwu (Oklahoma), and Kade Pieper (Iowa) were all in the mix.
- Center: This was a three-way battle between Iowa’s Logan Jones, Miami’s James Brockermeyer, and Florida’s Jack Slaughter. Jones ultimately secured the consensus spot thanks to his consistency, but the margin was razor-thin.
Interior Defensive Line: A Five-Way Split for One Spot
Kayden McDonald was a lock, but the second interior defensive line spot was a free-for-all. Each outlet had a different pick, with A’Mauri Washington (Oregon) ultimately earning the consensus nod.
That meant strong contenders like Landon Robinson (Navy), Tyrique Tucker (Indiana), Lee Hunter (Texas Tech), and AJ Holmes Jr. (Texas Tech) were left on the outside looking in.
Safety: Two Names, Two Different Takes
The safety group came down to Caleb Downs (Ohio State) and Louis Moore (Notre Dame)-at least for most outlets. CBS, USA Today, and On3 had both Downs and Moore, but The Athletic went with Downs and Oregon’s Dillon Thieneman, while PFF opted for Moore and Bishop Fitzgerald (USC). In the end, Downs and Moore emerged as the consensus picks.
Notable Snubs and Near Misses
Let’s be clear: “snub” is a tricky word in a year with this much talent. But a few players absolutely made strong cases.
Quarterback: Drew Mestemaker (North Texas)
Mestemaker led all Division I quarterbacks with over 4,000 passing yards-nobody else even cracked 3,700.
The knock? Strength of schedule.
Still, his production was undeniable, and he has every right to feel overlooked.
Running Back: Kewan Lacy (Ole Miss)
While Jeremiyah Love and Ahmad Hardy earned their spots, Lacy wasn’t far behind.
He was one of just two backs to hit 20+ rushing touchdowns and nearly cracked 1,300 yards. That kind of season usually gets you in.
Cam Cook (Jacksonville State) led the nation in rushing, and BYU’s LJ Martin posted 1,305 yards with 12 touchdowns. Both were right in the mix, but Love and Hardy’s all-around impact tipped the scales.
Wide Receiver: Danny Scudero, Skyler Bell, Wyatt Young
Statistically, these three had more yardage than Smith or Lemon, but they didn’t have the same impact per catch or touchdown production. Smith and Lemon both averaged over 13.6 yards per reception and found the end zone 11 times each-numbers that matter when you’re splitting hairs.
EDGE: Nadame Tucker (Western Michigan)
Now here’s a real case.
Tucker led the nation in sacks and forced four fumbles-more than both Bailey and Howell. He also had more total tackles.
The only knock? Level of competition.
But production is production, and Tucker’s numbers are hard to ignore.
Linebacker: Owen Long (Colorado State)
Long led the country with 151 tackles-34 more than Rodriguez.
That’s a massive gap. Rodriguez, Reese, and Allen were the consensus picks, but Long’s production puts him firmly in the conversation.
Final Thoughts: A Deep Pool of Talent
Every All-American list this year had its own flavor, but none of them reached outside the bounds of reason. The composite team-built from five respected outlets-represents the best attempt at a true consensus. And while there will always be debates, the 2025 All-American team is loaded with game-changers.
From Mendoza’s command at quarterback to the dominance of Smith and Lemon on the outside, and the defensive chaos created by Bailey, Howell, and McDonald up front-this group is a snapshot of college football’s elite.
And if you’re one of the players who barely missed the cut? Keep your head up. All-American or not, the tape doesn’t lie-and NFL scouts are still watching.