Colleges with most No. 1 overall NFL Draft picks

Tennessee Volunteers football saw Peyton Manning go first in 1998 and George Cafego in 1940.

South Carolina Gamecocks football produced Jadeveon Clowney in 2014 and George Rogers in 1981.

The Nebraska Cornhuskers football team had Irving Fryar in 1984 and Sam Francis in 1937.

Virginia Tech Hokies football produced Michael Vick in 2001 and Bruce Smith in 1985.

Washington Huskies football had Drew Bledsoe in 1993 and Steve Emtman in 1992.

Michigan State Spartans football produced Bubba Smith in 1967, and George Webster is often linked to that era of dominance, though Smith stands as the official top pick.

Florida State Seminoles football had Jameis Winston in 2015, and Andre Wadsworth is another notable top prospect from the program’s peak years.

Miami: 3

Cam Ward

Miami Hurricanes football has produced three No. 1 overall picks. The list starts with Vinny Testaverde in 1987. He had a long NFL career and was one of the top quarterbacks of his era.

Next came Russell Maryland in 1991. He became a key part of the Dallas Cowboys defense during their Super Bowl run.

Most recently, Cam Ward was selected first overall in 2025 by the Tennessee Titans. His rise added a modern boost to Miami’s legacy.

Texas: 3

Earl Campbell

Texas Longhorns football also has three No. 1 picks.

Tommy Nobis was the first in 1966. He became a legend for the Atlanta Falcons.

Then came Earl Campbell in 1978. He was quite dominant and won MVP honors.

Kenneth Sims rounded out the list in 1982.

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Ohio State: 3

Orlando Pace

Ohio State Buckeyes football has also produced three top picks.

Tom Cousineau went first in 1979.

Dan Wilkinson followed in 1994.

The most famous name here is Orlando Pace in 1997. He became a Hall of Fame player and a key part of the St. Louis Rams offense.

LSU: 3

Joe Burrow

LSU Tigers football has three No. 1 picks as well.

Billy Cannon was selected in 1960.

JaMarcus Russell went first in 2007.

The most successful among them is Joe Burrow in 2020. He led the Cincinnati Bengals to a Super Bowl appearance and became one of the league’s top quarterbacks.

Stanford: 4

John Elway

Stanford Cardinal football has a strong quarterback history with four No. 1 picks.

Bobby Garrett started it in 1954.

Jim Plunkett followed in 1971 and later won two Super Bowls.

John Elway was selected in 1983. He became one of the greatest quarterbacks ever.

Andrew Luck was the last in 2012. He had a strong career before retiring early.

Auburn: 4

Cam Newton

Auburn Tigers football has produced four top picks.

Tucker Frederickson was first in 1965.

Bo Jackson followed in 1986. He became one of the most famous athletes in sports history.

Aundray Bruce went first in 1988.

Cam Newton capped the list in 2011. He won MVP and led the Carolina Panthers to a Super Bowl.

Oklahoma: 5

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield

Oklahoma Sooners football has five No. 1 picks.

Lee Roy Selmon started it in 1976.

Billy Sims followed in 1980.

The program later became known for quarterbacks. Sam Bradford went first in 2010.

Then came back-to-back picks. Baker Mayfield in 2018 and Kyler Murray in 2019.

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Notre Dame: 5

Walt Patulski

Notre Dame Fighting Irish football also has five No. 1 picks.

Angelo Bertelli was selected in 1944.

Frank Dancewicz followed in 1946.

Leon Hart went first in 1950.

Paul Hornung was picked in 1957 and became a legend.

Walt Patulski was the last in 1972.

Georgia: 5

Matthew Stafford

Georgia Bulldogs football has five No. 1 overall picks.

Frank Sinkwich was selected in 1943.

Charley Trippi followed in 1945.

Harry Babcock went first in 1953.

In the modern era, Matthew Stafford was selected in 2009 and later won a Super Bowl.

Travon Walker became the latest in 2022.

USC: 6

Caleb Williams

USC Trojans football leads the list with six No. 1 picks.

Ron Yary was the first in 1968.

O. J. Simpson followed in 1969 and became one of the most dominant players ever.

Ricky Bell went first in 1977.

Keyshawn Johnson was selected in 1996.

Carson Palmer followed in 2003.

The most recent is Caleb Williams in 2024. He added to USC’s strong quarterback tradition.

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Conclusion

USC sits at the top with six No. 1 picks. A few programs are close behind with five. These schools have built a long history of producing elite talent. The list shows both old legends and modern stars. With every draft, this list can change. The 2026 draft could add another name soon.