After the Coaches Poll named Ohio State the No. 1 team in America, the Buckeyes added more preseason hardware this week when The Sporting News released its 2026 college football Preseason All-America teams. Three Scarlet and Gray players were named ahead of the new campaign.
Ohio State tied Georgia, Iowa and Texas Tech for the fourth-highest total nationally, trailing only Texas (six), Notre Dame and Oregon (four apiece). The Big Ten placed 14 total selections on The Sporting News' list, behind the SEC's conference-leading 23.
Leading the way for Ohio State is wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, who made The Sporting News' preseason first team alongside Miami's Malachi Toney and Texas' Cam Coleman. It's an unsurprising honor given his production to date. Smith has accumulated 2,558 receiving yards and 27 touchdown catches in his first two collegiate seasons, the most by any Big Ten receiver over that stretch. His 163 career receptions rank second nationally among all players in that span. He's one of just two receivers in program history with multiple 1,000-yard seasons, and he was a unanimous All-American a year ago.
Joining Smith on Sporting News' list are offensive linemen Luke Montgomery and Austin Siereveld, both named to the preseason second team. Montgomery has anchored the left guard spot since the latter half of the Buckeyes' 2024 championship run, while Siereveld earned second-team All-Big Ten honors last season after moving to left tackle. Both return as part of an offensive line that helped power one of the nation's most balanced attacks. The Scarlet and Gray were among only two FBS programs, along with Miami, to produce a 3,500-yard passer, a 1,000-yard receiver and a 1,000-yard rusher in each of the last two seasons.
Siereveld's spot up front remains something of a moving target early in fall camp. He opened practice this week at right guard after starting all 14 games at left tackle in 2025. Ian Moore stepped in at left tackle, and Joshua Padilla was also in the mix at guard. Montgomery and center Carson Hinzman, meanwhile, have settled into their roles as the line's steadiest fixtures since the 2024 title run.
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The three honorees follow similar preseason nods from Athlon Sports and Walter Camp, in which Smith and Siereveld were also recognized alongside quarterback Julian Sayin.
Ohio State is through four fall camp practices, with the start of the season in focus as Ball State comes to Ohio Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 5. The Buckeyes then have their marquee non-conference matchup, heading to Austin to face the Longhorns the following week.
