No Wisconsin players listed on preseason All Conference 1st team rankings
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Ahead of the 2026 season, Athlon Sports released its yearly preseason All-Conference predictions for the Big Ten, ranking the top offensive, defensive, and special teams players in the conference.
The evaluations are based on how players will perform in 2026. Career statistics and awards matter in the evaluation, but choosing players for the 2026 all-conference team is largely based on predicting and projecting the best for the upcoming year, according to Athlon.
Here’s a look at the First Team honorees for offense and defense.
First Team Offense
QB Julian Sayin, Ohio State
RB Bo Jackson, Ohio State
RB Jordan Marshall, Michigan
RB/All-Purpose Antwan Raymond, Rutgers
WR Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State
WR Charlie Becker, Indiana
WR KJ Duff, Rutgers
TE Jamari Johnson, Oregon
C Iapani Laloulu, Oregon
OL Carter Smith, Indiana
OL Kade Pieper, Iowa
OL Trevor Lauck, Iowa
OL Austin Siereveld, Ohio State
OL Luke Montgomery, Ohio State
First Team Defense
DL Anthony Smith, Minnesota
DL Tyrique Tucker, Indiana
DL John Henry Daley, Michigan
DL A’Mauri Washington, Oregon
DL Matayo Uiagalelei, Oregon
LB Rolijah Hardy, Indiana
LB Teitum Tuioti, Oregon
LB Isaiah Jones, Indiana
LB Daniel Wingate, Maryland
CB Brandon Finney Jr., Oregon
CB Jyaire Hill, Michigan
CB Jamari Sharpe, Indiana
S Koi Perich, Oregon
S Amare Ferrell, Indiana
S Zach Lutmer, Iowa
First Team Specialists
K Nico Radicic, Indiana
P Bryce McFerson, Maryland
KR Koi Perich, Oregon
PR Jacory Barney Jr., Nebraska
The Wisconsin Badgers didn’t get an honoree on the first team lists, but there are a lot of repeat schools here. Ohio State saw five players listed as first-team honorees, while Oregon and Indiana had eight apiece.
The Badgers did see their first player listed on the second team, though. Here’s the full list of second-team predictions.
Second Team Offense
QB Dante Moore, Oregon
RB Jordon Davison, Oregon
RB Darius Taylor, Minnesota
RB Waymond Jordan, USC
All-Purpose Wayne Knight, UCLA
WR Dakorien Moore, Oregon
WR Griffin Wilde, Northwestern
WR Nick Marsh, Indiana
WR Andrew Marsh, Michigan
TE Benjamin Brahmer, Penn State
TE DJ Vonnahme, Iowa
C Justin Evans, Nebraska
OL Andrew Sprague, Michigan
OL Carson Hinzman, Ohio State
OL Jake Guarnera, Michigan
OL Greg Johnson, Minnesota
OL Ezomo Oratokhai, Northwestern
OL Drew Evans, Indiana
Second Team Defense
DL Kenyatta Jackson Jr., Ohio State
DL Bear Alexander, Oregon
DL Mario Landino, Indiana
DL Enow Etta, Michigan
DL Qua Russaw, Ohio State
LB Jacob Manu, Washington
LB Mason Posa, Wisconsin
LB Caleb Bacon, Penn State
LB Payton Pierce, Ohio State
LB Maverick Baranowski, Minnesota
CB John Nestor, Minnesota
CB Devin Sanchez, Ohio State
CB Jontez Williams, USC
S Robert Fitzgerald, Northwestern
S Marcus Neal, Penn State
S Earl Little Jr., Ohio State
Unsurprisingly, their one nominee across the top two teams was linebacker Mason Posa, who had a stellar finish to his freshman season and is expected to lead Wisconsin’s defense in 2026.
Wisconsin transfer safety Marvin Burks Jr. was named a third-team nominee on defense as well, while linebacker Cooper Catalano was the Badgers’ lone other nominee on the fourth-team defense.
Purdue and Wisconsin were the only Big Ten schools to not have an offensive nominee across the four teams.
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