Oklahoma's Tate Sandell & Kip Lewis Named Preseason All-Americans By ESPN

Oklahoma picked up some well-deserved national recognition when ESPN released their Preseason All-American teams for 2026.

Kicker Tate Sandell was named a First-Team All-American, and linebacker Kip Lewis landed on the Second Team. Both honors feel earned, and both players fit the identity of this current Sooners roster.

Sandell’s case is about as clear as it gets. Eli Lederman and Max Olson of ESPN summed it up cleanly: "No one was better kicking from distance a year ago than Sandell, the UTSA transfer whose left leg (and short pants) helped power Oklahoma to its first playoff appearance since 2019. All told, Sandell converted on 24 of his 27 field goal attempts in 2025, leading the nation in made field goals of 40-plus (16) and 50-plus yards (eight) while averaging more yards per kick -- 42.3 -- than any FBS kicker with at least 20 field goal attempts. For that, Sandell became the first Sooner to win the Lou Groza Award, given annually to the nation's top place-kicker."

That is a ridiculous year. Twenty-four makes on 27 attempts is already strong. Leading the country in both 40-plus and 50-plus field goals while posting the highest average distance among qualified kickers is elite. Sandell wasn’t just making the routine ones. He was consistently delivering from distances that change the way a coach approaches the end of a half or a close game. The Lou Groza Award only reinforced what the film and the numbers already showed — he was the best kicker in the country last season.

There isn’t a more reliable option at the position right now. When a kicker gives you that kind of range and accuracy, it shows up in the win column. Oklahoma made the playoff last year for the first time since 2019, and Sandell’s leg was a real part of that success. Getting First-Team All-American recognition is the right call.

Kip Lewis landing on the Second Team is also deserved. Lewis has been one of the more consistent and physical linebackers on Brent Venables’ defense. He still has another level he can reach, which is what makes the honor more interesting than final. Some players peak when they get this kind of recognition. Lewis looks like someone who can use it as a stepping stone and play even better in 2026.

He’s got the physicality, the instincts, and the kind of edge that fits what Venables wants at the position. Second-Team All-American is a strong acknowledgment of what he’s already done, and it leaves room for him to climb higher.

Only two Sooners landing on the First and Second Teams also says something about how this roster is still viewed nationally. Oklahoma remains a bit under-appreciated relative to what it can be.

Isaiah Sategna III is coming off a First-Team All-SEC season and has the talent to be one of the better wideouts in the country. David Stone is a projected high NFL Draft pick by many and has a real chance to force his way into All-American conversations even though he hasn’t been a full-time starter yet. Taylor Wein, Peyton Bowen, and Courtland Guillory are all names that could force their way into the national conversation with big seasons. Guillory in particular looked like a future star as a freshman.

The broader point is that Oklahoma doesn’t need to be viewed as an elite roster to be dangerous. This is the most complete group Venables has had since he took over. The defense has talent and experience. The skill positions on offense have playmakers. The questions that remain are the same ones that have been discussed all offseason — offensive line consistency and the run game. Those are real issues, but they don’t erase the quality that already exists on the roster.

Sandell and Lewis earning All-American recognition is a good reminder of the standard pieces already in place. One is the best at his position in the country. The other is a physical linebacker who still has room to grow. Around them are several other players capable of playing at a high level if things break right.

Oklahoma isn’t getting the benefit of the doubt from everyone yet, and that’s fine. The Sooners have usually played better when expectations are measured. Having a Lou Groza winner and another All-American on defense gives the roster proven production.

The next step is getting enough of the remaining pieces to play up to that same standard. If that happens, the national recognition will take care of itself.