COLLEGE FOOTBALL ALL AMERICAN TEAM

Ohio State here, Ohio State there, Ohio State led all schools by placing eight players on three All-America teams, yet the Buckeyes were hanging on to the second-ranked position and perhaps a shoo-in to the 4-school playoff championships.

And down they went in a blow out by arch-rival Michigan, which took over the second spot, sent Ohio State to No. 8, and out of the Big Ten championship versus Iowa.

Heck, the Buckeyes even placed three wide receivers on the three teams, and that was neat but did little to stop their fall from the second-best in the rankings.

In first-teamers by conference, that belonged to the Southeastern Conference with nine, with Oklahoma and Texas jumping in about 2025 from the Big 12 to the SEC. Second was the Big Ten with five, and three each from the PAC-12, Atlantic Coast Conference and Big 12, and the American Athletic Conference

and Mountain West placed two apiece.

No matter, the names are there, voted upon the Associated Press, and now it boils down to the underclassmen making decisions on whether to stay in school or enter the college draft. For the seniors, they are hopeful of becoming high picks and reeling in the big contracts and the big money.

With more schools playing major college football, the offense now features three receivers and the defenses include and extra defensive back.

In addition, Kentucky tackle Darian Kinnard and Oregon edge rusher went from third team in 2020 to first team in 2021. There was also Iowa center Tyler Linderbaum and Texas  A & M guard Kenyon Green were first-team selections after making second-team in 2020.

The AP added two players, one on each side of the ball, on teams this time, the first change for the All-America structure since 2006.