Gridiron Elite Highlight American Athletic Gap

The athletic ceiling of American youth is on full display in the 2026 CBS Sports Preseason All-America team, a roster of 54 selections that highlights the sheer physical profile available in the domestic sports landscape, as CBS Sports first reported.

According to CBS Sports, the list is dominated by the SEC and Big Ten, which together account for 38 of the 54 total picks, or 70%. The SEC leads the group with 25 overall selections, while the Big Ten follows with 13. Texas leads all programs with five first-team selections, followed by Oregon, LSU, and Miami (FL), each with four total picks.

Three players earned unanimous first-team honors: Texas EDGE Colin Simmons, Notre Dame cornerback Leonard Moore, and Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith. Other high-impact athletes include Oregon defensive tackle A'Mauri Washington and Miami (FL)'s Malachi Toney, who CBS Sports notes as a particularly noteworthy pick after amassing 1,211 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns as a freshman. Oregon's Dante Moore was named the 2026 CBS Sports Preseason Player of the Year, while Oregon's Dan Lanning was named Preseason Coach of the Year.

For a soccer landscape seeking to elevate its domestic talent, the versatility and explosive nature of these athletes—ranging from the speed of wide receivers to the strength of defensive tackles—represent a gold mine of untapped potential that remains largely tethered to the football field.