College football midseason All-America teams: Ty Simpson, Arvell Reese lead first-half stars

We’re already halfway through the 2025 college football season, which has taken multiple unexpected turns, with Indiana sitting at No. 3, Penn State out of the rankings and making a coaching change and Texas Tech — once a program known for great offense and lackluster defense — suffocating opponents with one of the stingiest defenses in the country. Preseason Heisman Trophy predictions have been scrapped for a new class of contenders.

There are many new faces on these teams, as only 16 of The Athletic’s 50 preseason All-Americans made the midseason honors, with 31 teams and eight conferences represented. Ohio State and Texas A&M lead the way with five selections, followed by Texas Tech (four) and Indiana, Miami and Oregon (three each).

QB Ty Simpson, Alabama: Simpson has been nails for the Crimson Tide. He’s been one of the nation’s most accurate passers, with a 70.9 completion rate, and he’s responsible for 18 touchdowns with just one turnover, the best touchdown-to-turnover ratio of any Power 4 quarterback.

RB Ahmad Hardy, Missouri: Hardy, a transfer from Louisiana-Monroe, picked up where he left off last season and has emerged as one of the best backs in the country. He’s second in the FBS in rushing yards (782) and rushing touchdowns (nine).

Ahmad Hardy is averaging 6.8 yards per carry in his first season at Missouri. (Reese Strickland / Imagn Images)

RB Justice Haynes, Michigan: The Alabama transfer has been an explosive back for the Wolverines, with four rushes of 50-plus yards this season, tied for the FBS lead, while also ranking in the top 10 nationally in rushing yards (705) and rushing touchdowns (eight).

WR Mario Craver, Texas A&M: Craver, formerly of Mississippi State, has been one of the most impactful transfers nationally, giving the Aggies’ passing game juice. He’s only 5 feet 9 and 165 pounds, but his elite speed has enabled him to average 105.7 receiving yards per game, fourth in the FBS.

WR Makai Lemon, USC: Lemon’s elite route-running and yards-after-catch ability translate to inevitable impact every week. He’s the second-most productive pass catcher in the country, averaging 113.7 receiving yards per game.

TE Michael Trigg, Baylor: Trigg is a dynamic middle-of-the-field weapon and has become a favorite target for quarterback Sawyer Robertson. Trigg leads all FBS tight ends with 439 receiving yards to go with four touchdown catches.

OT Spencer Fano, Utah: The future NFL Draft pick continues to thrive for the Utes and has allowed just three pressures in 195 pass-blocking snaps, the second-lowest total among Power 4 offensive tackles, per Pro Football Focus.

OT Carter Smith, Indiana: The Hoosiers left tackle allowed zero pressures in Indiana’s road win over Oregon and has allowed just three all season in 197 pass-blocking snaps.

OG Vega Ioane, Penn State: Although the Nittany Lions’ season has gone sideways, Ioane has been a consistent force on the interior offensive line. Ioane has allowed only one pressure in 175 pass-blocking snaps, and he’s also an excellent run blocker who displays tremendous strength.

OG Emmanuel Pregnon, Oregon: The USC transfer has excelled as both a run blocker and pass blocker and has allowed only two pressures in 180 pass-blocking snaps.

C Logan Jones, Iowa: The Hawkeyes’ ability to develop top-flight centers continues with Jones. He has allowed only two pressures on 177 pass-blocking snaps and has been one of the nation’s best run blockers.

DE Rueben Bain, Miami: Bain has paired with Akheem Mesidor to form one of the most formidable pass-rushing tandems in the country. Bain is third among Power 4 edge rushers with 29 pressures this season, per PFF, and has added 3.5 tackles for loss.

DE Cashius Howell, Texas A&M: The former Bowling Green transfer is thriving in his second year with the Aggies. He’s tied for third in the FBS with eight sacks and has 24 pressures.

DT Caden Curry, Ohio State: Curry is one of the most versatile defensive linemen in the game, lining up on the edge and on the interior, including at nose tackle. He’s disruptive wherever he is, with a Big Ten-best six sacks to go along with 9.5 tackles for loss and 24 pressures.

Caden Curry is one of the key cogs on the nation’s best defense. (Adam Cairns / USA Today Network via Imagn Images)

DT Lee Hunter, Texas Tech: Hunter’s massive size (6-4, 330 pounds) and strength make him a headache for interior offensive linemen to move, and he has allowed Tech’s talented edge rushers to exploit one-on-one matchups. Hunter doesn’t stuff the box score since he’s eating up blockers, but still has 15 tackles, 12 pressures and 1.5 tackles for loss.

LB David Bailey, Texas Tech: The Stanford transfer has been a challenge for opposing offensive tackles all season. He’s tied for the FBS lead with 8.5 sacks and leads all edge rushers with 44 pressures. He’s had more than 10 pressures in Tech’s last two Big 12 wins over Kansas and Houston.

LB Arvell Reese, Ohio State: The Buckeyes’ leading tackler (38 stops) is all over the field. He wreaks havoc as a rusher (4.5 sacks) but is also an invaluable presence as a spy and in coverage, where he has broken up two passes.

LB Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech: The converted quarterback has become the heart of the Red Raiders’ top-flight defense, with a team-high 50 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, three pass breakups and two interceptions.

CB Mansoor Delane, LSU: The Virginia Tech transfer has locked down opposing receivers, with a 36 percent forced incompletion rate, No. 1 in the FBS according to PFF. He has six pass breakups, one interception and zero penalties.

CB Leonard Moore, Notre Dame: Moore has three interceptions this year and is allowing only 8.1 yards per reception for a Notre Dame defense that has played very well recently after a slow start.

S Caleb Downs, Ohio State: The two-time All-American is having another stellar season, allowing just 5.2 yards per reception, collecting 28 tackles and one interception.

S Michael Taaffe, Texas: Taaffe, who leads the Longhorns with 41 tackles, has been even better than he was a year ago, when he earned All-America status.

K Kansei Matsuzawa, Hawaii: Matsuzawa became a viral sensation after his Week 0 game winner over Stanford after he revealed he taught himself how to kick via YouTube. It has worked out pretty well: He’s perfect this season, going 19-of-19 on field-goal attempts, including eight of 40-49 yards and a 52-yarder, and he has made all 19 of his PATs.

P Brett Thorson, Georgia: Thorson has been a weapon, averaging 45.3 net yards per punt (fifth among punters with at least 15 attempts), and opponents have returned only two of his 15 punts for a total of 13 yards this season. Nine of Thorson’s punts have been fair caught, and three have landed inside the 10-yard line.

AP Jonah Coleman, Washington: The dynamic Coleman is the Huskies’ leading rusher (518 yards, 11 touchdowns) but also an effective receiver, with 20 catches for 243 yards and a touchdown. He also sees time on special teams, mostly as a kickoff returner, but he has also seen snaps on the punt team.