College Football Programs With The Most No. 1 Overall NFL Draft Picks

The NFL Draft dates all the way back to 1936, with the first edition being held at a Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Much has changed since then, but the premise of the process remains the same.

The worst overall team gets the rights to the top overall choice. The team selections then go in reverse order of the standings, helping even the competitive playing field.

Nearly 100 years have passed since that initial 1936 event. A number of different players have had the honor of being picked at the top spot.

Some schools have more representation than others when it comes to that honor. Below are the 10 teams with the most No. 1 overall NFL Draft picks.

Texas Longhorns

Texas has seen three players selected with the top overall choice. The most recent was Kenneth Sims in 1982.

Hall of Fame running back Earl Campbell (1978) and former Falcons linebacker Tommy Nobis (1966) preceded the defensive end.

Ohio State Buckeyes

The Buckeyes also have a trio of top NFL Draft picks. Orlando Pace was the first offensive lineman in 30 years to go No. 1 overall in 1997.

Three years prior, Dan Wilkinson went first overall while Tom Cousineau was selected at the top spot in 1979.

Miami Hurricanes

Miami has the most recent top pick in quarterback Cam Ward (2025). Unfortunately, Washington State doesn’t get credit despite the fact that he was a Cougar longer than he was a Hurricane.

Prior to Ward, defensive lineman Russell Maryland (1991) and quarterback Vinny Testaverde (1987) also went No. 1 overall.

LSU Tigers

LSU has three top NFL picks with two being prominent signal callers. Joe Burrow is the most recent having gone in 2020.

JaMarcus Russell, considered one of the league’s biggest busts, went No. 1 in 2007. Billy Cannon rounds out the trio with his 1960 selection.

Stanford Cardinals

The Cardinals are the first team with four No. 1 overall NFL Draft picks on this list. All happen to be quarterbacks.

Andrew Luck went at the top spot in 2012. He followed John Elway (1983), Jim Plunkett (1971), and Bobby Garrett (1954).

Auburn Tigers

Auburn has also seen a quartet of former players be selected with the No. 1 choice. The latest was Heisman winner Cam Newton in 2011.

The Tigers also saw Bo Jackson (1986) and Aundray Bruce (1988) go within a three-year span while Tucker Fredrickson was the school’s first top pick in 1965.

Oklahoma Sooners

Oklahoma has five No. 1 overall NFL Draft picks in program history. Three have come within the last 20 years.

Kyler Murray (2019) and Baker Mayfield (2018) went back-to-back after Sam Bradford topped the draft board in 2010. Billy Sims (1980) and Lee Roy Selmon (1976) were the first two Sooners to earn the title.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish

One of college football’s most historic programs, it’s no surprise to see Notre Dame on the list. The Irish, too, have five top picks.

Four came between 1944-1957 in Paul Hornung, Leon Hart, Frank Dancewicz, and Angelo Bertelli. The most recent No. 1 selection for the program was Walt Patulski in 1972.

Georgia Bulldogs

Georgia’s most recent No. 1 choice was Travon Walker in 2022. He followed former Bulldog quarterback Matt Stafford, who was chosen in 2009.

Harry Babcock (1953), Charley Trippi (1945), and Frank Sinkwich (1943) round out the UGA quintet.

USC Trojans

USC is the college football program with the most No. 1 overall NFL Draft picks with six. Interestingly enough, we would’ve had to flip the Trojans and Oklahoma for the top spot had Caleb Williams (2024) chosen to remain a Sooner rather than transfer.

Southern Cal has also seen Carson Palmer (2003), Keyshawn Johnson (1996), Ricky Bell (1977), OJ Simpson (1969), and Ron Yary (1968) be selected with the top choice.

It shouldn’t be a surprise to learn they have the most Heisman trophy winners in college football history, too.