AP names all-time all-america

The AP marks 100 years of All-American honors by unveiling a nostalgic all-time first and second team featuring Tebow, Moss, and Woodson.

AP Names All-Time All-America First Team

The Associated Press marks its 100th anniversary of choosing an All-American team by unveiling All-Time All-American Teams for both the First and Second Teams. The list honors players across eras, with Tim Tebow at quarterback on the First-Team and Vince Young on the Second-Team, and a lineup that includes all-time greats such as Randy Moss, Barry Sanders and Deion Sanders. The selection was made by a panel of 12 AP sports writers, using the rule that players must have been named to an AP First-Team at least once to be eligible. The Big Ten leads with seven First-Team selections, while the SEC has five. Ohio State and Pittsburgh each have three First-Team picks, and Archie Griffin appears on the Second-Team as a reminder of the program’s historical strength.

The Second-Team Offense and Defense bring additional legends, including Archie Griffin and Tony Dorsett at running back and Charles Woodson and Deion Sanders on defense. The article notes that NFL careers were not considered in the criteria, underscoring that this list foregrounds college dominance and lasting impact. It closes by highlighting how the roster combines players from different decades who shaped the sport and how their legacies extend beyond college ball.

This list functions as a memory project as much as a roll call of greatness. Placing Tebow ahead of Young signals a preference for national titles and Heisman lore that continues to color fan memory. The regional balance, with the Big Ten leading the First-Team tally, reveals how conference identity still informs the sport’s historical narrative. Yet the exercise also exposes tension between eras: some decades dominated by different styles, players, and opportunities. The result is less a definitive ranking and more a curated snapshot that invites debate about what the game values most in its legends.

Beyond who made the lists, the process matters. The reliance on AP First-Team honors for eligibility leans toward a particular kind of achievement and can elevate older stars who benefited from different recruiting ecosystems. Still, the roster underscores how college football builds lasting legacies that echo into the NFL and popular memory, shaping who fans consider a blueprint for greatness.

Highlights

Time will tell how this tribute ages as new generations add their memories to the game.