ESPN’s 2026 preseason All-America list adds two Ohio State offensive standouts

ESPN unveiled its 2026 preseason All-American teams last week, and Ohio State landed two players on the preseason list, a sign that the program’s offense is drawing continued national attention before any games are played. ESPN’s format for the award recognizes players across the full units of the sport, including special teams, and the publication limited its selections to a First Team and a Second Team rather than naming a larger pool.

The Buckeyes’ two honorees, Eli Lederman and Max Olson, were singled out as part of the offensive side of the ball. The Yahoo Sports report noted that the ESPN preseason team is structured as an “exclusive” group with only First and Second Team representatives, with special teams included within that framework.

In the same coverage, Yahoo Sports emphasized that ESPN only provided detailed discussion on its First Team selections, which means the public breakdown around Lederman and Olson focuses primarily on the players chosen for the top tier. Even without game action, preseason All-America teams operate as a national snapshot, typically shaped by prior-season production, role expectations, and the projected impact a player could have in the upcoming season.

For Ohio State, preseason recognition is less about immediate standings and more about the way the roster is perceived entering a year that will likely be judged quickly. The Buckeyes play in the Big Ten, where national attention often turns into practical pressure, particularly for teams that aim to be viewed as playoff-level contenders. Being named to ESPN’s preseason All-America list can also influence how coaches and opponents plan, because it indicates which players are expected to anchor production.

Still, preseason accolades are inherently provisional. Performance, availability, and role changes can all alter a player’s season trajectory in ways that awards released before kickoff cannot account for. As the 2026 schedule progresses, the key question for Ohio State will be whether the players recognized by ESPN can convert preseason expectations into consistent week-to-week production and whether the offense can stay efficient against the conference’s best defensive fronts.

The next checkpoint is the first phase of real evaluation: how Lederman and Olson perform in Ohio State’s early games, and whether their play holds up when opposing defenses adjust. If the preseason honor matches the on-field results, Ohio State will enter the second half of the season with a clearer identity and a stronger case for continued national positioning. If not, the preseason list becomes an early talking point rather than a predictive indicator.