NFL Draft picks by conference: Big Ten ends SEC's 19-year run of dominance over first round in 2026 originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

For 19 years, the SEC had the most first-round NFL Draft picks. In 2026, the Big Ten has put a stop to this long-reigning record.

The SEC had just seven first-round selections this year, its lowest since 2015. This comes after setting a record last year, with 15 first-round selections.

The David who slayed Goliath this year? The Big Ten. Ohio State was the most notable of this bunch, with four players selected. The national champion Indiana Hoosiers had two of their own, including No. 1 overall Fernando Mendoza. Oregon also joined with a pair of first-rounders, TE Kenyon Sadiq and S Dillon Thieneman.

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In a surprising twist, the competition for the top spot on this leaderboard was not particularly close. The Big Ten lived up to the number in its name, with 10 total picks on Thursday, three more than the SEC.

On top of this, the ACC and Big 12 made a run at passing the SEC too, each with six first-round selections. The group is rounded out by a pair of Notre Dame running backs and San Diego State CB Chris Johnson.

The Big Ten's increase in draft picks could be a trend to watch in the future as well, as three of its picks were from formerly Pac-12 schools that realigned into the Big Ten.