The 2025 AllSportsPeople College Football All-America Team features seven players from Ohio State, including two-time SN first-team All-American Caleb Downs.
Downs, receiver Jeremiah Smith, defensive lineman Kayden McDonald and linebacker Sonny Styles all made our first team. Indiana – the Big Ten champion – had four players on our first and second teams. AllSportsPeople chose Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia on our first team in a close decision with Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who won the Heisman Trophy on Saturday.
Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez also made our first team. Notre Dame had three first-team selections in running back Jeremiyah Love, cornerback Leonard Moore and kick returner Jadarian Price.
The Big Ten led all conferences with 19 selections across our All-America team. The SEC had 14 selections, and the Big 12 and ACC had six selections apiece.
AllSportsPeople is one of five outlets used to determine consensus All-American status at the end of the season. A look at our 2025 AllSportsPeople All-America team.
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First-team offense
QB: Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt
Pavia won the Johnny Unitas Award as the nation's top quarterback and was the Heisman Trophy runner-up to Indiana's Fernando Mendoza. Pavia is our choice. He led Vanderbilt to a school-record 10 wins, and he ranked first among Power 4 quarterbacks with 334.8 yards of total offense per game while Vanderbilt led the nation in yards per play. He had five games with at least 400 total yards and finished with 36 total TDs.
RB: Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame
Love – the Doak Walker Award winner – was a Heisman Trophy finalist for the Irish. Love had 1,372 rushing yards on 6.9 yards per carry with a steady display of highlight-reel runs. He was the only running back in the FBS with 1,300 or more yards on less than 200 carries and helped the Irish to a 10-2 record.
RB: Ahmad Hardy, Missouri
Hardy led all Power 4 running backs with 1,560 rushing yards this season. Hardy had a 300-yard, three-TD performance against Mississippi State on Nov. 15. Hardy had eight games with 100 or more rushing yards and never had less than 50 yards in any game this season.
WR: Makai Lemon, USC
Lemon – the Biletnikoff Award winner – had 79 catches for 1,156 yards and 11 TDs as a part of a remarkable breakout season for USC. He had a 73.1% catch percentage as one of the most reliable targets in the FBS. Lemon had three games with at least 10 catches and 150 receiving yards in the same game.
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WR: Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State
Is there a more imposing force in college football? Smith had 80 catches on 98 targets - an absurd 81.6% catch percentage. He had 80 catches for 1,086 yards and 11 TDs and added a rushing TD. Smith battled a late-season injury but still managed to finish sixth in the Heisman Trophy voting.
WR: Skyler Bell, UConn
Bell – a Wisconsin transfer – put up huge numbers for the Huskies this season. He had 101 catches, 1,278 yards and 13 TDs – the only receiver in the country to go 100-1,000-10. He had three games with at least 10 catches, 100 or more yards and a TD this season.
TE: Eli Stowers, Vanderbilt
Stowers – the Mackey Award winner – gives Vanderbilt two first-team selections. Stowers led all FBS tight ends with 769 receiving yards this season. He had 146 yards and two TDs against Texas on Nov. 1.
T: Spencer Fano, Utah
Fano – the Outland Trophy winner – was a dominant all-around force for the Utes this season. He did not allow a sack – or even a quarterback hit – and the 6-foot-6, 308-pound tackle emerged as a force in the running game. Utah ranked second in the FBS in rushing yards per game.
G: Emmanuel Pregnon, Oregon
Pregnon – a two-time transfer – found the right home at Oregon. The 6-foot-5, 318-pound guard allowed zero sacks and just three pressures on the interior for the Ducks while paving the way for a rushing offense that averaged 218.4 rushing yards per game.
C: Logan Jones, Iowa
Jones – the Rimington Trophy winner – powered Iowa's offensive line from the middle. The 6-foot, 302-pound center played 704 snaps at center and allowed just one sack. Jones did not have a holding penalty for the entire regular season.
G: Keylan Rutledge, Georgia Tech
Rutledge – a 6-foot-4, 330-pounder – did not allow a sack and was one of the key interior blockers for a Georgia Tech offense that averaged 203 rushing yards per game. Rutledge was the top guard in the ACC this season.
T: Francis Mauigoa, Miami
Mauigoa – a massive 6-foot-8, 315-pound tackle – allowed just two QB hits in Miami's last two games. He was the anchor protection for quarterback Carson Beck. Mauigoa lived up to the preseason hype and helped the Hurricanes reach the College Football Playoff for the first time.
AP: Emmett Johnson, Nebraska
Johnson led the FBS with 151.8 all-purpose yards this season. He led the Big Ten with 1,451 yards and 12 TDs – but he added 46 catches for 370 yards. That versatility made him the perfect fit for our all-purpose back.
First-team defense
DL: Rueben Bain Jr., Miami
Bain attracted more attention as the season progressed – and he had 4.5 sacks this season for the Hurricanes. Bain, however, also had 48 quarterback hurries – including four games with five or more this season. He closed the season with 1.5 sacks against Pitt to push Miami into the College Football Playoff.
DL: Kayden McDonald, Ohio State
McDonald was the breakout player on the interior for the Buckeyes this season. He finished with 57 tackles, eight tackles for loss, three sacks and two forced fumbles. The 6-foot-3, 326-pound defensive tackle had seven tackles and three tackles for loss in a dominant performance against Washington on Sept. 27.
DE/EDGE: David Bailey, Texas Tech
Bailey – a Stanford transfer – made an immediate impact on the Texas Tech defense. He had 13.5 sacks for an FBS-best 121 lost yards. He had seven sacks in a three-game stretch in October and closed the season with a sack and five tackles in a 34-7 victory against BYU in the Big 12 championship game.
DE/EDGE: Cashius Howell, Texas A&M
Howell – a Bowling Green transfer – emerged as one of the best pass-rushing talents in the FBS this season. He had 10 sacks and 14 tackles for loss. Howell also had 26 hurries, according to PFF, including seven in the rivalry matchup against Arkansas on Oct. 18.
LB: Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech
Rodriguez cleaned up on the awards circuit. He won the Lombardi Award, Nagurski Trophy, Butkus Award and Bednarik Award. Rodriguez had 117 tackles, 17 tackles for loss and seven forced fumbles as the game-changer for the Red Raiders' defense. He also added six pass breakups.
LB: CJ Allen, Georgia
Allen led Georgia with 85 tackles and eight tackles for loss as part of a season where the Bulldogs allowed 15.9 points per game. Allen had 10 or more stops in four SEC games this season. He added a career-high 3.5 sacks and four pass breakups.
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LB: Sonny Styles, Ohio State
Styles had 80 tackles and five tackles for loss this season – but that's not the best part. He didn't miss a tackle all season. He also had an interception, three pass breakups and one forced fumble. He was a captain on Ohio State's defense – which allowed just 8.2 points per game.
CB: Leonard Moore, Notre Dame
Moore – who had five interceptions and seven pass breakups – gives Notre Dame a defensive back on our first team for the third consecutive season. He also emerged as a strong tackler for the Irish with 54 total tackles. Moore was a finalist for the Nagurski Trophy as a sophomore.
CB: Mansoor Delane, LSU
Delane had two interceptions, and he led the SEC with 11 pass breakups. He's an excellent cover cornerback who fit in well at LSU after transferring from Virginia Tech. According to PFF, Delane allowed just 13 receptions in coverage this season. He continues a tradition of LSU defensive backs on our All-America team.
S: Caleb Downs, Ohio State
Downs – the Thorpe Award and Lott IMPACT Trophy winner – proved he was one of the best all-around players in college football for the second straight season. He had 60 tackles, five tackles for loss and two interceptions. He did not allow a TD in coverage. Downs is a two-time SN first-team selection.
S: AJ Haulcy, LSU
Haulcy – a Houston transfer – had 88 total tackles and three interceptions for the Tigers. He had four straight games with at least 10 tackles – and he allowed just one TD in coverage this season. It was a solid effort for a defense that allowed just 18.3 points per game.
DB: D'Angelo Ponds, Indiana
Ponds did not allow a catch of 20 yards or more this season until the Big Ten championship against Ohio State, where he held his own against fellow All-American Jeremiah Smith. Ponds has been the leader of the Hoosiers' secondary each of the last two seasons and is an easy choice for our first team.
First-team specialists
K: Tate Sandell, Oklahoma
Sandell – the Groza Award winner – hit 23 of 24 field goals this season. He was especially effective from 40-49 (8 of 9) and 50-plus yards (7 of 7) through the Sooners' run to the College Football Playoff. Sandell hit three field goals of 50 yards or more in the 33-27 victory at Tennessee on Nov. 1.
P: Evan Crenshaw, Troy
Crenshaw averaged 45.4 yards per punt – and he landed 33 punts inside the 20-yard line for the Trojans. Opposing punt returns averaged just 6.1 yards per return. Crenshaw had punts for a 40.3 average in the Sun Belt championship game against James Madison.
KR: Jadarian Price, Notre Dame
Price returned just 12 kicks this season, but he returned two for TDs and averaged 37.5 yards per return. The 100-yard kickoff return TD against rival USC was the go-ahead score in a 34-24 victory. Price also rushed for 674 yards and 11 TDs.
PR: Kaden Wetjen, Iowa
Wetjen could have been the first-team selection for either kicks or punts. He averaged 30.5 yards per kickoff with a score against Rutgers, but he also had three punt return TDs this season – including one that broke open a 41-3 blowout against Minnesota on Oct. 25.
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Second-team offense
QB: Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
RB: Kewan Lacy, Ole Miss
RB: Cam Cook, Jacksonville State
WR: Malachi Toney, Miami
WR: Carnell Tate, Ohio State
WR: Eric McAlister, TCU
TE: Michael Trigg, Baylor
OL: Kadyn Proctor, Alabama
OL: Shadre Hurst, Tulane
C: Jake Slaughter, Florida
OL: Beau Stephens, Iowa
OL: Carter Smith, Indiana
AP: Caleb Hawkins, North Texas
Second-team defense
DL: Caden Curry, Ohio State
DL: Landon Robinson, Navy
EDGE: Akheem Mesidor, Miami
EDGE: Colin Simmons, Texas
LB: Aiden Fisher, Indiana
LB: Caden Fordham, NC State
LB: Arvell Reese, Ohio State
CB: Treydan Stukes, Arizona
CB: Chris Johnson, San Diego State
S: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo
S: Dillon Thieneman, Oregon
DB: Bishop Fitzgerald, USC
Second-team specialists
K: Kansei Matsuzawa, Hawaii
P: Ethan Pulliam, Mississippi State
KR: Jaylen Jenkins, Texas State
PR: KC Concepcion, Texas A&M