NFLRecap
2026 NFL Draft winners and losers from Round 1: Jeremiyah Love cashes in, Rams pass on present for future
2026 NFL Draft Round 1: Key Winners and Losers Revealed
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NFLRecap
2026 NFL Draft picks by college team, conference: Big Ten on top as Ohio State lands 4 first-round selections
TL;DR
The 2026 NFL Draft saw the Big Ten dominate with 10 first-round picks, including four from Ohio State. Notable selections included Carnell Tate at No. 4 and Arvell Reese at No. 5.
Key points
- Big Ten had 10 total selections in the first round
- Ohio State produced four first-round picks
- Carnell Tate was the first Ohio State player selected at No. 4
- SEC had seven total selections, down from 15 last year
- Ty Simpson was a surprise pick at No. 13 overall
NFLCarnell TateArvell ReeseSonny Styles
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The first round of the 2026 NFL Draft is in the books, and it was a huge night for some former college football stars. Many of those players came out of the Big Ten, including No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza, as the conference had a solid first night in Pittsburgh.
The Big Ten finished the first round with 10 total selections, and four of those hailed from Ohio State. The first Buckeye off the board was wide receiver Carnell Tate, who went to the Tennessee Titans at No. 4 overall, and he was joined by linebackers Arvell Reese (No. 5) and Sonny Styles (No. 7) in the top 10.
The SEC had a respectable showing with seven total selections, but it was less than half of the league's 15-pick showing last year. The SEC also produced one of the night's biggest surprises with Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson going No. 13 overall to the Los Angeles Rams.
This year saw a lot more conference diversity, with the SEC and Big Ten combined for 26 of the 32 first-round picks in 2025. The Big 12 and ACC tallied six and five picks, respectively, with Miami watching three of its stars walk across the stage. The American Conference and the Mountain West Conference also got on the board with one selection each. Notre Dame running backs Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price represented the independent programs.
Here's a full breakdown of the first-round picks in the 2026 NFL Draft by school and conference.
2026 NFL Draft picks by schools, conferences
Big Ten (10)
- Ohio State — 4
- Oregon — 2
- Indiana — 2
- Penn State — 1
- USC — 1
SEC (7)
- Alabama — 2
Q&A
Which college teams had the most NFL Draft picks in 2026?
The Big Ten led with 10 total selections, with Ohio State contributing four of those picks.
Who were the top draft picks from Ohio State in the 2026 NFL Draft?
Carnell Tate was the first Buckeye selected at No. 4 overall, followed by Arvell Reese at No. 5 and Sonny Styles at No. 7.
How did the SEC perform in the 2026 NFL Draft compared to last year?
The SEC had seven total selections in 2026, a significant drop from their 15 picks in the previous year.
