Three Ducks earn AP All-American honors but zero Oregon players are on the first team

The Oregon Ducks are undefeated, heading to the first-ever 12-team College Football Playoffs, and hold the No. 1 ranking in the nation. On Monday, Dec. 16, the Ducks earned even more recognition when three star players were awarded AP All-American honors.

Quarterback Dillon Gabriel, defensive lineman Derrick Harmon, and offensive lineman Josh Conerly Jr. all received the prestigious honor. However, Harmon is a second-team All-American while Gabriel and Conerly were both placed on the third team.

So, despite having the best team in the country, the Ducks somehow failed to have a single player given the status of first-team AP All-American.

Instead, Miami's Cam Ward was given the position of the first-team All-American quarterback. Meanwhile, Texas' Kelvin Banks and LSU's Will Campbell were given the honor of being the first-team tackles – the position that Conerly most frequently plays. Harmon was passed over for players like Michigan's Mason Graham and Ole Miss' Walter Nolen.

Travis Hunter, Colorado's talented two-way athlete and the winner of the 2024 Heisman Trophy, was given the nod as the AP Play of the Year.

To put the decisions into better context... Dillon Gabriel has thrown for 3,558 passing yards, 28 touchdowns, and just 6 interceptions while also running for 192 rushing yards and 7 touchdowns on the ground. Meanwhile, Cam Ward has thrown for 4,123 yards and 36 touchdowns, with just 7 interceptions while earning an additional 196 yards and 4 touchdowns on the ground.

While Derrick Harmon may have racked up an impressive 42 tackles, 5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and 2 pass deflections so far this season, Ole Miss' Walter Nolen earned 48 total tackles, 6.5 sacks, and 2 pass deflections.

So, when you compare numbers on a stat sheet, the Ducks may not look like the best in the country but how could a team made up of just a few All-Americans, who aren't on the first team, go 13-0 and be the No. 1 team in the nation?

Read more: