ESPN’s 2025 Preseason All-American Picks Spark Outrage Across College Football
ESPN has just dropped its 2025 Preseason College Football All-American list, and as expected, the internet is on fire — not with applause, but with outrage. What was supposed to be a celebration of the nation’s top talent has turned into a battlefield of fan wars, accusations of bias, and claims that ESPN is “pushing an agenda” rather than rewarding merit.
The controversy starts with the obvious: some players with stellar 2024 seasons were inexplicably left off, while others with questionable stats made the cut. Critics point to certain picks as blatant favoritism toward powerhouse programs, accusing ESPN of prioritizing brand names over actual on-field dominance. “It’s not about who’s the best anymore,” one furious fan posted on X. “It’s about who sells the most jerseys.”
The quarterback selection is at the heart of the storm. ESPN’s choice, coming from a blue-blood school with a massive TV following, beat out at least two QBs who led their teams to playoff contention with statistically better performances. Defensive selections have also raised eyebrows, with some athletes making the list despite their teams ranking near the bottom in their conference.
Former players and analysts are chiming in too. One ex-All-American called the list “a marketing stunt,” while another suggested that ESPN’s preseason awards have lost credibility entirely. Meanwhile, athletes who were snubbed are posting cryptic messages on social media, fanning the flames of speculation and fueling heated debates.
Whether ESPN cares or not is another matter. The network thrives on attention, and every angry comment, share, and hot take only drives more traffic to its coverage. In the end, ESPN may have achieved exactly what it wanted — dominance over the preseason conversation.
Love it or hate it, this list will shape narratives heading into the season. For some players, it’s validation. For others, it’s fuel. And for fans, it’s just one more reason to believe that in college football, politics and prestige might be just as important as performance.
If the 2025 season proves anything, it will be whether ESPN’s controversial picks can live up to the hype — or collapse under the weight of their preseason crown.
