The AP’s preseason All-America teams landed Wednesday afternoon, and while plenty of the sport’s biggest names showed up, eight AP Top 25 programs were left off the lists entirely.
That kind of omission stands out in a preseason built around hype and projection, especially when the teams in question are all ranked and loaded with recognizable talent. From College Station to Louisville, several of the country’s most watched rosters didn’t land a single All-America selection.
Texas A&M is the highest-ranked of the bunch, checking in at No. 8 in the preseason AP Top 25. The Aggies have one of the most talented rosters in the country, led by star quarterback Marcel Reed.
They also bring back senior safety Marcus Ratliffe, who was named to the preseason Bronko Nagurski and All-SEC watchlists. With that kind of profile and national championship expectations attached, Texas A&M coming up empty was one of the bigger surprises of the release.
USC sits next on the list at No. 15, and the Trojans have no shortage of star power either. Jayden Maiava is the headliner after leading the Big Ten in passing in 2025 with 3,711 yards and 24 touchdowns. Southern Cal also returns corner Jontez Williams, who made the Jim Thorpe Award preseason watchlist, along with tailback Waymond Jordan.
Washington, ranked No. 16, is another team many see as a potential College Football Playoff sleeper, and the Huskies are built around quarterback Demond Williams Jr., one of the Big Ten’s top passers a year ago. They also return important pieces up front, including guard John Mills, who draft experts expect to be an early-first-round pick next spring.
Penn State is heading into its first season under Matt Campbell, and the roster has been reshaped by the transfer portal. Even so, senior linebacker Tony Rojas is staying put and should be one of the nation’s top players at his position in 2026. The Nittany Lions also added several Iowa State transfers, including tight end Benjamin Brahmer and safety Jeremiah Cooper.
SMU, which is aiming for its second CFP appearance in three seasons, also didn’t place a player on the preseason All-America teams. The Mustangs are expected to be a factor in a deep ACC, and offensive lineman PJ Williams is a major reason why. He earned Second Team All-ACC honors after starting all 13 games at left tackle in 2025 and helping power one of the country’s best offensive lines.
Tennessee is trying to rebound from an 8-5 season in 2025, including a 4-4 mark in SEC play, and it too was shut out. The Vols’ top returnee is offensive lineman Wendell Moe Jr., who started 11 games after transferring from Arizona and earned first-team All-SEC and second-team All-American honors. Tennessee also brings back 2025 freshman All-American tackle David Sanders Jr. and third-team All-SEC defensive back Ty Redmond.
Utah enters a new era in 2026, with someone other than Kyle Whittingham set to be head coach in Salt Lake City for the first time in more than 20 years. Several of the Utes’ best players from last season left with Whittingham for Michigan, but quarterback Devon Dampier stayed. Now a senior, Dampier has already landed on multiple preseason watchlists after producing more than 3,300 total yards and 34 total touchdowns in 2025.
Louisville rounds out the list of ranked teams without a preseason AP All-American. The Cardinals are coming off a nine-win season and will lean heavily on running back Isaac Brown, who led the nation in yards per attempt last year at 8.8. Entering his junior season, Brown is positioned to be one of college football’s most explosive playmakers again in 2026.
In Other News...
Washingtons New-Look Roster Faces Its First Real Test Before The Opener
Before the 2026 season opener against Washington State, the Huskies will get one more live look at themselves in a mock game at Husky Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 6. Fans are invited to watch, and the setting should offer an early read on how a roster with plenty of young and new faces is coming together as the preseason reaches its final stretch.
The exercise is expected to shine a light on the position battles that have been developing behind the scenes, from the offensive line to the defense and receiver group. It will also give the staff a chance to assess player development in real time, with coverage planned throughout the day, including live updates, a postgame story, a podcast and interviews. [Read more 🡒]
Washington Just Lost Two Key Veterans At The Worst Time
A late legal turn has put Washington in a tough spot as camp approaches, with the program suddenly dealing with more uncertainty around veteran depth than it expected. The issue traces back to a previous injunction that had opened the door for certain NCAA football players from the recruiting Class of 2022 to gain a fifth year of eligibility, a ruling that looked like it could help several teams navigate roster building and experience at once.
Now the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals has stayed that injunction, and the Huskies are feeling the effect immediately. Players who filed suit in state courts can still move forward, but others are in limbo, including defensive tackle Ta'ita'i Uiagalelei and kicker Grady Gross, who are not permitted to practice with Washington while the case works through the system. With the season drawing close, there is not much time left for that picture to change. [Read more 🡒]
Washington Mock Game Put Real Pressure On A Key Huskies Battle
Husky Stadium got a real dress rehearsal Saturday, with Washington putting nearly 90 plays on the field in a public scrimmage that mixed live looks with situational work. It was the kind of afternoon that lets a staff see where the roster is before the games start carrying more weight, and Demond Williams made his case with a sharp showing in the passing game while the defense had its own moments, including Ksani Jiles taking an interception back 40 yards.
For a team getting ready to face Washington State, the bigger takeaway may be how close the Huskies are to having the full group available again. Jedd Fisch said the previously held-out players will be ready to go starting Sunday, which gives Washington a cleaner picture as it turns from scrimmage tempo to game-week prep. With rivalry week ahead, the remaining questions are less about effort than about which battles on the depth chart are going to matter most when the real lineup gets set. [Read more 🡒]