2026 Midseason All-America football team and honors

What a weekend, as wild a weekend as we’ve seen in college football in who knows how long. Five of the top seven teams in the AP poll went down, including No. 1 Georgia and No. 2 Notre Dame, and the No. 3 team, Miami, was taken to double overtime before holding off 3-4 Florida State. It brings us to the halfway point of the season, and just as we all predicted, UCLA is the only team in the two behemoth conferences, Big Ten and SEC, still unbeaten. Let’s hope the best is yet to come. We roll out On3’s midseason honors today, Player of the Year, Coach of the Year and True Freshman of the Year, along with our midseason All-America team. OFFENSE QB: Darian Mensah, MiamiThe Hurricanes paid big money to get Mensah away from Duke in the transfer portal, and he’s been worth every penny. He leads the country in passer rating (203.9) and completion percentage (80.8) and has thrown 18 touchdown passes and just one interception. He has passed for at least 220 yards in all six of his games. RB: DeSean Bishop, TennesseeA former walk-on, Bishop is the only FBS player with at least 800 rushing yards (837) and 10 rushing touchdowns. His 159 yards last Saturday against Alabama were the most the Crimson Tide have given up all season, and he’s averaging an SEC-best 5.7 yards per carry in league games. Bishop has fumbled just once in 139 carries and has been at his best late in games with 517 second-half yards, which leads the country. RB: Nate Sheppard, DukeSheppard has played through an ankle injury these past two weeks and leads the country with 1,079 yards from scrimmage, 820 rushing yards and 259 receiving yards. After earning Freshman All-America honors a year ago, the 5-10, 205-pound sophomore is on his way to a second straight 1,000-yard season. He leads all FBS running backs with 26 runs of 10 yards or longer and has 12 total touchdowns, eight rushing and four receiving. WR: Jeremiah Smith, Ohio StateClosing in on 40 career touchdown catches, Smith already has 12 this season despite teams shadowing him with double coverage. The Buckeyes have moved Smith around to get him open, and even when he’s not open, he usually finds a way to come down with the football. He’s second nationally with 10 catches of 30 yards or longer and is tied for the lead nationally with 52 receptions. WR: Charlie Becker, IndianaWhile he might have been a three-star prospect coming out of high school and began his career at Indiana as a special teams ace, Becker has emerged as one of college football’s most complete receivers. The 6-4, 208-pound junior has never dropped a pass and makes the contested catches look easy. He’s pulled in eight touchdown catches this season and averaging 17.8 yards per catch. Becker had nine catches for 165 yards in the 19-15 loss to Ohio State last week. TE: Patrick Overmyer, HoustonOvermyer leads all FBS tight ends with seven touchdown catches and has been Conner Weigman’s favorite target with a team-leading 38 receptions. Overmyer, who played quarterback in high school, is in his first season with the 6-1 Cougars after transferring from UTSA. Six of his seven touchdown catches have come against Big 12 competition. OT: Samson Okunlola, MiamiThey call him “Pancake Honcho” for a reason. The 6-6, 330-pound Okunlola was one of the top-rated tackles in the country coming out of high school, and after playing guard a year ago, has settled in at left tackle this season for the Hurricanes, who are leading the country in scoring (48.5 points per game). Okunlola has not allowed a sack and only one hit on his quarterback through six games, according to Pro Football Focus. OG: Kade Pieper, IowaPieper put off the NFL draft to return to Iowa for his senior season and has been one of the main cogs in a Hawkeyes’ offensive line that has already produced three 200-yard rushing games. In six starts at right guard, the 6-3, 298-pound Pieper has allowed just two quarterback hurries, according to Pro Football Focus, and been equally dominant as a run-blocker. C: Greg Johnson, MinnesotaJohnson, going back to his freshman season, has lined up just about everywhere in the offensive line. He’s moved to center the past few weeks after starting the season at left guard. He’s also filled in at both tackle spots during his career and has established himself as one of the best interior offensive linemen in college football. The 6-6, 325-pound senior is a bruising run-blocker and hasn’t allowed a sack during his entire career. OG: Shadre Hurst, HoustonOne of the country’s top athletes in the offensive line, Hurst is making the most of his first season at Houston after transferring from Tulane. The 6-2, 304-pound Hurst was a standout wrestler in high school, and he’s “pinned” his share of opposing defensive linemen this season from his left guard position. He’s allowed just two quarterback hurries in seven games, according to Pro Football Focus. OT: Lance Heard, KentuckyOne of Will Stein’s priorities in building Kentucky’s roster was finding an elite left tackle, and the Wildcats were able to pluck Heard away from Tennessee in the transfer portal. The 6-6, 325-pound senior has started at three different SEC schools after beginning his career at LSU and is a key reason Kentucky is tied with Georgia atop the SEC standings with three wins over nationally ranked teams. All-Purpose: Wayne Knight, UCLAThe 5-7, 193-pound senior running back is the first UCLA player since Maurice Jones-Drew in 2005 to rush for a touchdown in each of the Bruins’ first six games. In his first season at UCLA after transferring from James Madison, Knight is one of three FBS players with more than 500 rushing yards (571), 100 receiving yards (106) and 100 kickoff return yards (160). DEFENSE Edge: Colin Simmons, TexasSimmons injured his ankle in his most recent outing, a 27-24 loss to Florida, and is expected to miss the Ole Miss game this week. But he’s established himself as the premier pass-rusher in the country this season, highlighted by 5.5 sacks in the Tennessee game, a Texas single-game school record. Simmons leads the country in tackles for loss (16) and sacks (10.5). DT: Xavier Gilliam, TennesseeNo defensive player in college football has wreaked more havoc than Gilliam, who’s in his first season at Tennessee after transferring from Penn State. He’s been an enforcer in the middle for Jim Knowles’ defense with 10.5 tackles for loss and 24 total quarterback pressures, which is tied for the lead nationally. Even when Gilliam isn’t making plays, he’s drawing so much attention that his teammates are teeing off on opposing quarterbacks and ball-carriers. DT: A.J. Holmes, Jr., Texas TechHolmes is putting together his second straight All-America season for the unbeaten Red Raiders after transferring from Houston in 2025. The 6-3, 300-pound fifth-year senior has four sacks through six games and 24 total quarterback pressures, according to Pro Football Focus, which ties him with Gilliam for the lead nationally. Edge: Boubacar Traore, Notre DameTraore, a 6-5, 235-pound senior, was ejected for targeting in the loss to BYU last week, which was a blow to the Irish defense. But he’s been a stat stuffer all season for the Irish with 3.5 sacks, a fumble return for a touchdown, two forced fumbles and an interception. LB: Sammy Omosigho, UCLAThe unbeaten Bruins have been one of college football’s biggest surprises, and the 6-2, 239-pound Omosigho has gone from a rotational player at Oklahoma to one of the most productive linebackers in the country after transferring to UCLA. He’s forced four fumbles to go along with 7.5 tackles for loss, three sacks and rated by Pro Football Focus as the highest-graded Power 4 linebacker through six games. LB: Chris Cole, GeorgiaCole has it all for the Bulldogs – speed, range, pass-rushing skills and the knack for always being around the football and always making big plays. The 6-3, 235-pound inside linebacker leads Georgia with 8.5 tackles for loss and leads the country, according to Pro Football Focus, with 21 total pressures on the quarterback. LB: Tony Rojas, Penn StateRojas’ season a year ago was cut short by a torn ACL injury, but he’s returned this season as yet another great linebacker in a long line of great linebackers at Penn State through the years. The 6-2, 236-pound redshirt junior is the only FBS player with more than 10 tackles for loss (10.5) and two interceptions. He’s had at least four solo tackles in six of his seven games. CB: Kelley Jones, Mississippi StateIt’s rare that teams go after Jones, who’s been targeted 20 times in six games, according to Pro Football Focus, and given up just nine catches, none for touchdowns. The 6-4, 205-pound senior is second on Mississippi State’s team with six pass breakups and also has 1.5 tackles for loss. CB: Andrew Marshall, NebraskaMarshall has gone from an honorable-mention All-Big Ten selection a year ago to the best cornerback in the league halfway through this season. Through seven games, he’s been targeted 27 times and allowed just eight catches, according to Pro Football Focus, to go along with four pass breakups and an interception. S: Kingston Lopa, CalAfter playing a limited role at Oregon, Lopa transferred to Cal this season and has developed into one of the best safeties in the country. He has great size (6-5, 210 pounds) and is tied for the lead nationally with five interceptions. He had three interceptions in the win over Syracuse, one of those he returned 24 yards for a touchdown. S: Robert Fitzgerald, NorthwesternFitzgerald has picked up right where he left off last season as one of the top safeties in college football. He led Northwestern with 115 total tackles a year ago and is on his way to another 100-tackle season this year. The 6-0, 210-pound fifth-year senior had 13 total tackles in the 29-23 loss to Indiana, Northwestern’s only loss of the season. He also has two interceptions, but missed the Michigan State game last week with an injury. SPECIAL TEAMS PK: David Olano, Texas A&MIt’s been a struggle for the Aggies this season on offense, but Olano has delivered every time he’s been called upon. The transfer from Illinois has made all 11 of his field-goal attempts, including four from 50 yards or longer. He had a long of 57 yards in Texas A&M’s only SEC win, 34-7 over Arkansas, and also connected from 50 yards-plus in two other SEC games. P: Daniel Sparks, VirginiaAfter starting his college career at ULM in 2020, Sparks is in his seventh year of eligibility and having his best season yet for the Cavaliers. He’s punted 31 times and averaging 50.3 yards per punt with his 16 of his punts being downed inside the 20-yard line. In Sparks’ last three games, he’s boomed punts of 73, 72 and 68 yards. RS: Michael Scott, James MadisonThe sophomore receiver has two touchdown catches for Billy Napier’s unbeaten Dukes, but where Scott has made his mark is in the return game. He had punt returns of 76 yards and 69 yards for touchdowns in the Week 2 rout of Wagner. Scott ranks first nationally in kickoff return average (38.7 yards) and second in punt return average (20 yards). Player of the Year Ohio State WR Jeremiah SmithWhen in doubt, throw it up to No. 4, sort of like Ohio State did last Saturday in its 19-15 win at Indiana. The 6-4, 222-pound Smith went up between two Indiana defenders in the end zone in the fourth quarter to snare a 38-yard touchdown catch. He makes it look easy, which is a nightmare for those defenders (and it’s been multiple defenders lately) trying to cover him. Smith is the closest thing as it gets to an NFL player playing in the college ranks. Indiana coach Curt Cignetti said it best when asked the best way to defend Smith: “By hitting the quarterback before he throws the ball.” Honorable mention: Miami QB Darian Mensah, Ole Miss QB Trinidad Chambliss, Tennessee DT Xavier Gilliam Coach of the Year Kentucky’s Will SteinStein coaches the way you played on Saturday afternoons in the backyard when the neighborhood kids gathered to play a pickup football game. He’s going for it on every play, especially two-point conversions, and breathes energy and passion into everybody around him. The Wildcats are 6-1 and 4-1 in the SEC, tied atop the league standings with Georgia. Stein, 37, has looked anything like a first-year head coach, and this Kentucky team has looked anything like the one that went 5-7 a year ago. The Wildcats already have three SEC road wins and three wins against nationally ranked teams. Honorable mention: UCLA’s Bob Chesney, Utah‘s Morgan Scalley, BYU‘s Kalani Sitake True Freshman of the Year Oregon State WR Jesse LegreeLegree’s numbers through seven games have been eye-popping. He leads all FBS players with 14 touchdown catches, and he’s the only player with more than 1,000 receiving yards (1,040). Of his 46 catches, 11 have gone for 30 yards or longer. In other words, he’s a big play waiting to happen and averaging 22.6 yards per catch. Not too shabby for a lightly recruited three-star prospect who came all the way across the country from Saint Frances Academy in Baltimore to play for JaMarcus Shephard’s Beavers. Honorable mention: LSU DT Deuce Geralds, Ohio State CB Jay Timmons, Georgia OG Zykie Helton SECOND-TEAM ALL-AMERICA OFFENSEQB: Trinidad Chambliss, Ole MissRB: Jamal Roberts, MissouriRB: Jadan Baugh, FloridaWR: Malachi Toney, MiamiWR: Jesse Legree, Oregon StateTE: Luke Reynolds, Virginia TechOT: Carter Smith, IndianaOG: Anthonie Knapp, Notre DameC: Drew Bobo, GeorgiaOG: Luke Montgomery, Ohio StateOT: Trevor Goosby, TexasAll-Purpose: Isaac Brown, Louisville DEFENSEEdge: Tobi Osunsanmi, IndianaDT: Will Echoles, Ole MissDT: Xavier Lewis, North CarolinaEdge: Princewill Umanmielen, LSULB: Ben Roberts, Texas TechLB TJ Dottery, LSULB: Mason Posa, WisconsinCB: Ashton Hampton, ClemsonCB: Ellis Robinson IV, GeorgiaS: Jaylen McClain, Ohio StateS: Peyton Bowen, Oklahoma SPECIAL TEAMSPK: Nolan Hauser, ClemsonP: Palmer Williams, BaylorRS: Jaylon Hawkins, San Diego State