The 2018 college football season is just around the corner, and it’s time to honor the best of the best for the upcoming year. The Big Ten and SEC are considered by most to be the top conferences for 2018, so it should be no surprise these two leagues lead the way in selections on Athlon’s All-America Team. The Big Ten has 22 selections, with the SEC checking in with 21. The ACC is third among Power 5 leagues with 19 picks, followed by the Pac-12 at 18. The MAC leads all Group of 5 conferences with four selections.

Athlon Sports released its 2018 all-conference teams earlier this offseason, and now the focus shifts to the All-America team. Whether it’s quarterback, defensive end or a spot on special teams, picking the best of the best is no easy task.

An important note on the All-America teams: These are based on how players will perform in 2018. Career statistics and previous awards matter in player evaluation, but choosing players for the 2018 All-America team and all-conference teams is largely based on predicting and projecting the upcoming year.

2018 Athlon Sports All-Conference Teams

Power 5: ACC | Big 12 | Big Ten | Pac-12 | SEC

Group of 5: American | C-USA | MAC | MW | Sun Belt

Athlon Sports 2018 All-America Team

First-Team Offense Second-Team Offense Third-Team Offense Fourth-Team Offense QB Will Grier West Virginia Tua Tagovailoa Alabama Khalil Tate Arizona Trace McSorley Penn State RB Jonathan Taylor Wisconsin AJ Dillon Boston College J.K. Dobbins Ohio State Rodney Anderson Oklahoma RB Bryce Love Stanford Devin Singletary FAU Damien Harris Alabama David Montgomery Iowa State AP Myles Gaskin (RB) Washington D'Andre Swift Georgia Justice Hill (RB) Oklahoma State Cam Akers (RB) Florida State WR A.J. Brown Ole Miss N'Keal Harry Arizona State Penny Hart Georgia State Stanley Morgan Jr. Nebraska WR David Sills West Virginia Deebo Samuel South Carolina Anthony Johnson Buffalo Kelvin Harmon NC State TE Noah Fant Iowa Albert Okwuegbunam Missouri Kaden Smith Stanford Caleb Wilson UCLA C Ross Pierschbacher Alabama Toa Lobendahn USC Jake Hanson Oregon Sam Mustipher Notre Dame OL David Edwards Wisconsin Trey Adams Washington Michael Deiter Wisconsin Max Scharping NIU OL Mitch Hyatt Clemson Nate Herbig Stanford Bobby Evans Oklahoma Chris Lindstrom Boston College OL Dalton Risner Kansas State Greg Little Ole Miss Trey Smith Tennessee Yodny Cajuste West Virginia OL Jonah Williams Alabama Beau Benzschawel Wisconsin Andrew Thomas Georgia Michael Jordan Ohio State

First-Team Defense Second-Team Defense Third-Team Defense Fourth-Team Defense DL Christian Wilkins Clemson Rashan Gary Michigan Raekwon Davis Alabama Terry Beckner Missouri DL Nick Bosa Ohio State Jeffery Simmons Miss. State Dexter Lawrence Clemson Austin Bryant Clemson DL Clelin Ferrell Clemson Chase Winovich Michigan Montez Sweat Miss. State Jerry Tillery Notre Dame DL Ed Oliver Houston Sutton Smith NIU Ricky Walker Va. Tech Zach Allen Boston College LB Cameron Smith USC Devin Bush Michigan Joe Bachie Michigan State Dre'Mont Jones (DL) Ohio State LB Troy Dye Oregon T.J. Edwards Wisconsin Khaleke Hudson Michigan Khalil Hodge Buffalo LB Devin White LSU Joe Giles-Harris Duke Shaq Quarterman Miami Dakota Allen Texas Tech CB Byron Murphy Washington Deandre Baker Georgia Julian Love Notre Dame Te'von Coney (LB) Notre Dame CB Greedy Williams LSU Mark Gilbert Duke Brian Peavy Iowa State Lavert Hill Michigan S Jaquan Johnson Miami D'Cota Dixon Wisconsin Lukas Denis Boston College Levonta Taylor (CB) Florida State S Taylor Rapp Washington Andrew Wingard Wyoming Jordan Fuller Ohio State Marvell Tell USC

First-Team Specialists Second-Team Specialists Third-Team Specialists Fourth-Team Specialists K Matt Gay Utah Dominik Eberle Utah State Rodrigo Blankenship Georgia Rafael Gaglianone Wisconsin P Mitch Wishnowsky Utah Jake Bailey Stanford Corliss Waitman South Alabama Drue Chrisman Ohio State KR Tony Pollard Memphis Deebo Samuel South Carolina Marcus Green ULM Anthony Ratliff-Williams North Carolina PR KaVontae Turpin

TCU Mecole Hardman Georgia Avery Williams Boise State Michael Walker Boston College

Conference Breakdown of All-America Selections

First Second Third Fourth Overall ACC 4 3 4 8 19 American 2 0 0 0 2 Big 12 4 0 3 4 11 Big Ten 4 6 5 7 22 Conference USA 0 1 0 0 1 Independent 0 0 1 3 4 MAC 0 1 1 2 4 Mountain West 0 2 1 0 3 Pac-12 8 5 3 2 18 SEC 5 9 6 1 21 Sun Belt 0 0 3 0 3

Team Breakdown of All-America Selections