The 2025 college football season wrapped up, and wow, it was one for the books. As the regular season closed and we rolled into bowl games and the College Football Playoff, Sports Illustrated dropped its annual College Football All-American teams.
This year’s list is stacked with players from all over who really made a difference for their squads. From record-breaking quarterbacks to defensive linemen who basically lived in the backfield, these athletes raised the standard for everyone else.
Quarterbacks and Running Backs: Leading the Charge
The quarterback spot gets all the attention, and honestly, Fernando Mendoza from Indiana earned every bit of it. The former Cal QB turned Indiana into a legit national title threat.
Mendoza topped the country in touchdown passes and was the second-most efficient quarterback out there. He even snagged a spot as a Heisman finalist—hard to argue with that.
Standout Running Backs
The running backs weren’t exactly quiet, either. Jeremiyah Love at Notre Dame, even with his team missing the playoffs, averaged a wild 6.89 yards per carry and scored 21 touchdowns.
Emmett Johnson from Nebraska was right up there too, leading the country with 151 yards from scrimmage per game and racking up 15 touchdowns. Those are numbers you just can’t ignore.
Wide Receivers and Tight Ends: The Game Changers
Receivers were at the heart of their teams’ offenses this year. Jeremiah Smith at Ohio State built on his insane freshman year and finished seventh in FBS for receiving yards.
On the West Coast, Makai Lemon from USC led all Power 4 conference players in receiving yards and matched Smith with 11 touchdowns. Both guys were just a nightmare for defenses.
Dynamic Tight Ends
Tight ends definitely had their moments, too. Eli Stowers at Vanderbilt, who used to play quarterback, led all tight ends in receiving yards.
He also opened up running lanes with his blocking, making him a constant headache for defenders. That kind of versatility? Coaches love it.
Offensive Linemen: The Unsung Heroes
The offensive line doesn’t get much love, but let’s be honest, they’re the backbone of any good offense. Spencer Fano at Utah, Francis Mauigoa from Miami, and Logan Jones at Iowa were all top-tier.
Fano, especially, was Pro Football Focus’s highest-graded lineman and helped Utah notch 10 wins. Not too shabby for a group that rarely gets the spotlight.
Guarding the Quarterback
Emmanuel Pregnon at Oregon and Keylan Rutledge at Georgia Tech made their presence felt, too. Pregnon was one of the best pass-blocking guards, a big reason Oregon made the playoffs.
Rutledge, meanwhile, was PFF’s top-graded guard in the ACC, known for his toughness and relentless attitude. Every team needs a guy like that.
Defensive Linemen: The Defensive Powerhouses
Switching to defense, linemen like David Bailey at Texas Tech and Cashius Howell at Texas A&M were a real problem for opposing offenses. Bailey finished with 13.5 sacks, which is just wild.
Howell wasn’t far behind, racking up 11.5 sacks and making huge plays when it mattered most. Quarterbacks definitely had to keep an eye on these two.
Defensive Linemen’s Impact
Kayden McDonald at Ohio State and Landon Robinson at Navy also made a big splash. McDonald anchored one of Ohio State’s best defenses in years.
Robinson was named the American Conference’s Defensive Player of the Year and was a standout nose guard for Navy. Both guys just made life hard for anyone trying to run the ball.
Linebackers: The Defensive Leaders
Linebackers really set the tone on defense, and Jacob Rodriguez at Texas Tech led the way. Rodriguez walked off with both the Butkus and Nagurski Awards.
That’s about as dominant as it gets. He was everywhere on the field.
Breakout Linebackers
Arvell Reese from Ohio State had a breakout year, chalking up 10 tackles for loss. Bryce Boettcher at Oregon was all over the place, finishing with 104 tackles.
Boettcher’s impact helped Oregon to an 11–1 season. You can’t ask for much more from your linebackers.
Defensive Backs: The Ultimate Game Changers
Defensive backs like Caleb Downs at Ohio State and Louis Moore at Indiana just kept making plays. Downs, with his sharp football IQ, was the best defensive player for two years running.
Moore had six interceptions and was a huge factor in Indiana’s turnaround. Those kinds of playmakers change games.
Lockdown Corners
Leonard Moore at Notre Dame and D’Angelo Ponds at Indiana were tough to beat. Leonard Moore was PFF’s highest-graded cornerback.
Ponds had a knack for coming up with big plays when it counted. Every secondary needs a guy like that to lean on.
Special Teams: The Unsung Heroes
Special teams folks don’t get enough credit, but their role is massive. Tate Sandell at Oklahoma, probably the Lou Groza Award winner, was lights out with his booming kicks.
Brett Thorson from Georgia was one of the best punters, flipping field position with pinpoint accuracy. Sometimes, it’s the little things that make the difference.
Dynamic Returners
Jadarian Price at Notre Dame and Kaden Wetjen at Iowa brought real excitement to the return game. Price averaged 37.5 yards per return and took two to the house.
Wetjen led FBS in punt return average and scored three touchdowns. Talk about electrifying—these guys kept fans on their feet.
Conclusion
The 2025 College Football All-American teams really showcase the top talent in the sport. These guys have turned heads with their performances and pushed their teams to new levels.
If you want the full breakdown or just want to geek out over the entire list, you can find it all at Sports Illustrated.
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