The Popularity Contest: Why the Preseason All-American Lists Are Out of Touch
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Eight Top 25 programs were completely shut out of the AP's preseason honors, proving that voters are ignoring elite talent in favor of outdated narratives.
Let's be honest: preseason All-American lists aren't about the tape. They are popularity contests. When you look at the latest selections from the AP, it becomes clear that the voters are operating on old scripts rather than acknowledging the actual talent currently on the field.
As Sports Illustrated first reported, a staggering eight programs ranked in the AP preseason Top 25 were completely shut out of the All-American honors. When nearly a third of the nation's elite teams don't have a single player recognized, the problem isn't a lack of talent—it's a failure of the voting process.
**Opinion: The Narrative Gap**
In my view, these omissions are a glaring indictment of how these lists are constructed. We are seeing a disconnect where programs with legitimate national championship aspirations are ignored, while the voters cling to the same familiar names year after year. The following eight snubs prove that the 'experts' are missing the forest for the trees.
Consider the Texas A&M Aggies, who sit at No. 8. Sports Illustrated notes that the Aggies possess top-flight talent, specifically star quarterback Marcel Reed and senior safety Marcus Ratliffe, the latter of whom earned spots on the All-SEC and Bronko Nagurski preseason watchlists. To leave College Station entirely off the list is a shock.
Then there is the No. 15 USC Trojans. As Sports Illustrated reports, the Trojans feature quarterback Jayden Maiava, who led the Big Ten in passing in 2025 with 24 touchdowns and 3,711 yards. Despite Maiava's production, and the presence of dynamic tailback Waymond Jordan and corner Jontez Williams—a Jim Thorpe Award preseason watchlist selection—the Trojans were ignored.
Washington, ranked No. 16, is another casualty. The Huskies are led by quarterback Demond Williams Jr. and star guard John Mills, whom Sports Illustrated reports draft experts view as an early-first-round NFL Draft prospect. Yet, no Husky made the cut.
Even proven producers are being overlooked. Sports Illustrated highlights Wendell Moe Jr. of the No. 20 Tennessee Volunteers, who earned second-team All-American and first-team All-SEC honors in 2025. If a player is already a second-team All-American, his omission from the preseason list is inexplicable.
Other glaring absences include:
* **No. 18 Penn State:** The Nittany Lions feature senior linebacker Tony Rojas, as well as transfers Jeremiah Cooper (safety) and Benjamin Brahmer (tight end). * **No. 19 SMU:** The Mustangs boast PJ Williams, a Second Team All-ACC selection who started 13 games at left tackle in 2025. * **No. 21 Utah** (Shut out per Sports Illustrated) * **No. 23 Louisville** (Shut out per Sports Illustrated)
When you have players like Mills and Moe Jr. being bypassed, it's clear the voters aren't watching the film—they're just checking boxes based on who they remember from last year.