Dante Moore wins QB debate as USA TODAY Sports reveals 2026 Preseason All-America Team
Dante Moore wins QB debate in 2026 All-America
Cybersecarmor.com – Every August, college football’s preseason All-America ballot distills a season’s worth of hype into a single list, and this year’s edition lands with unusual force. USA TODAY Sports’ panel of more than 20 writers and editors has unveiled the 2026 preseason selections, and the headline story is clear: Dante Moore wins QB debate as Oregon’s signal-caller claims the top first-team quarterback honor over Ohio State’s Julian Sayin. The roster also spotlights sustained excellence from Indiana, Georgia, Texas, Mississippi, and Notre Dame, mirroring the College Football Playoff picture that already shapes betting boards and fan discourse.
Quarterback: How the Vote Broke
The margin between Moore and Sayin was narrow enough to spark genuine disagreement among voters, yet the Ducks’ quarterback carried the decisive edge. After transferring from UCLA, Moore posted 3,565 passing yards and 30 touchdowns in his first full season as a starter in 2025, giving Oregon a passing attack that ranked among the nation’s best. That production, combined with the program’s overall trajectory, is why the question of who wins the QB debate resolved in Eugene’s favor.
Three players earned unanimous first-team votes with no dissenting ballot: Mississippi running back Kewan Lacy, Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, and Notre Dame cornerback Leonard Moore.
Backfield and Skill Positions
Lacy’s 2025 campaign — 1,567 rushing yards and 24 touchdowns — pairs with quarterback Trinidad Chambliss to form what many analysts call the most feared ground-game duo in the sport. Mississippi’s rushing attack, long dismissed on the national stage, now commands weekly attention.
Indiana’s Hardy logged 1,649 yards at 6.4 yards per carry last season, anchoring a line that projects bruising physicality again in 2026. Oregon’s Laloulu, a centerpiece of a rushing attack that averaged 5.4 yards per carry and produced 35 touchdowns in 2025, returns as the Ducks’ primary ground weapon. Johnson, who hauled in 32 catches last year, is poised for an expanded receiving role in the Oregon offense.
At wide receiver, Smith enters the season widely regarded as the pound-for-pound best player at his position and carries a realistic path toward cementing his legacy among the all-time greats. Miami’s Toney, a do-everything skill threat, contributed 1,211 yards in 2025 and remains versatile across multiple roles.
Line, Edge, and Interior Defense
Indiana’s interior front, built around Smith’s anchor role, is expected to dominate again. Texas gains a major upgrade when Goosby returns, giving quarterback Arch Manning an elite blind-side protector. Pieper, capable of lining up at multiple interior spots, would qualify as an All-America candidate at center as well.
On the defensive line, Simmons delivered a breakout 2025 with 15½ tackles for loss and 12 sacks, establishing himself as arguably the most physically dominant edge rusher in the country. Stewart, when healthy, trails not far behind with 12 tackles for loss from the previous season. Washington operates as a force along the interior of what appears to be the Power Four’s strongest defensive front, while Tucker — also posting 12 tackles for loss in 2025 — functions as a pure wrecking ball in the box.
Biles’ strong 2025 at Pittsburgh (101 total tackles, 17 tackles for loss) marks him as one of the most impactful transfers in the Power Four. Hardy, on the defensive side, led the defending champions with 102 tackles, eight sacks, and 15 tackles for loss. Brown, with 106 tackles, anchors a Clemson defense that may be the best unit in the ACC.
Secondary, Kick, and Special Teams
Leonard Moore, the unanimous first-team cornerback, is rarely tested by opposing quarterbacks yet still managed five interceptions in 2025, one of which he returned for a touchdown. He remains the consensus best defensive back in the sport. Finney produced two interceptions in last year’s Orange Bowl victory over Texas Tech, while Bolden (76 tackles, two interceptions in 2025) slots comfortably among the elite safeties developed under Kirby Smart at Georgia. Hubbard has accumulated seven interceptions since stepping into Alabama’s lineup in 2024.
Sandell converted 24 of 27 field goals in 2025 and was especially lethal from distance, making eight of nine attempts from 50-plus yards. Crenshaw averaged 45.7 yards per punt last season, becoming the first Troy player since the program entered the FBS to earn All-America honors from multiple selectors in a single year. Clark returned kickoffs for 28.3 yards per return, rounding out a special-teams group that should rank among the conference’s best.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the 2026 preseason QB debate? Oregon’s Dante Moore edged out Ohio State’s Julian Sayin for the first-team quarterback selection. Moore’s 3,565-yard, 30-touchdown 2025 season gave voters the clearest production-based rationale for the pick.
How many players received unanimous first-team votes? Three — Kewan Lacy (RB, Mississippi), Jeremiah Smith (WR, Ohio State), and Leonard Moore (CB, Notre Dame) — were selected by every member of the voting panel.
Which programs contributed the most All-America selections? Oregon, Ohio State, Indiana, Georgia, and Texas each placed multiple players on first or second teams, reflecting the depth of talent concentrated in those programs heading into the 2026 season.
When was the team announced? USA TODAY Sports released the 2026 preseason All-America selections on August 19, 2026, ahead of the first weekend of college football action.
