The 2026 NFL Draft wrapped Saturday, and both of college football's power conferences walked away with a claim to the crown.
Round one belonged to the Big Ten
The Big Ten had 10 first-round picks to the SEC's seven, ending the SEC's 19-year run of leading the first round, per Yahoo Sports. Seven was the SEC's lowest first-round total since 2015, a year after it had 15.
It started at the top. The Las Vegas Raiders took Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza at No. 1, a fitting cap for the national champion Hoosiers.
Ohio State had four first-rounders, Indiana and Oregon two each. Oregon's pair, tight end Kenyon Sadiq and safety Dillon Thieneman, were both Round 1 picks, per Yahoo. Yahoo notes three of the Big Ten's first-round picks came from former Pac-12 schools, so realignment is part of the story.
Days two and three belonged to the SEC
Then the SEC did what the SEC does. By the end of the weekend, it had 87 total selections, a new record, beating the 79 it set in 2025, according to CBS Sports. The Big Ten finished with 68, and the ACC and Big 12 had 38 each.
- Ohio State led all schools with 11 picks.
- Alabama and Texas A&M led the SEC with 10 each.
- Georgia had 8, as did national champion Indiana.
Leaders in the other leagues
Outside the top two, CBS Sports had Clemson and Miami tied for the ACC lead with nine picks each, while Texas Tech led the Big 12 with nine. Georgia State and Louisiana gave the Sun Belt one pick apiece.
What it means for fans
The draft is where college fandom and pro fandom collide. A few takeaways:
- The SEC's depth is still unmatched. Even in a down first round, no conference produced more NFL players.
- Your college favorites are about to scatter. Eight Bulldogs are headed to the NFL. If you followed them in Athens, you can keep following them now.
- The connection carries over. Players who built real followings in college take those audiences into the league. A fan who's watched someone since their freshman spring game doesn't stop caring on draft night.
The Big Ten won the headline. The SEC won the volume. Fans in both conferences have a lot of new pro jerseys to buy.
And for the players who didn't hear their names called, college NIL and the next level of their careers are still very much in play. Spring is over. Next up: summer workouts and a fall that's coming fast.