There has been one No. 1 overall selection from a non-Power Five program since 1974: Central Michigan offensive tackle Eric Fisher (2013). But which school owns the record for the most No. 1 NFL Draft picks in the history of the event?
Which College Football Team Has the Most No. 1 NFL Draft Picks?
T-7) Texas: 3
Draft picks: LB Tommy Nobis (1966), RB Earl Campbell (1978), DE Kenneth Sims (1982)
It’s been over 40 years since Texas last produced a No. 1 overall pick, but their three remain notable. Campbell rushed for over 1,400 yards and earned first-team All-Pro honors in each of his first three NFL seasons, securing his place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Nobis made five Pro Bowls with the Falcons and was named to the NFL’s All-1960s team. No new Texas players have joined this list as of the 2024 NFL Draft.
T-7) Ohio State: 3
Draft picks: LB Tom Cousineau (1979), DT Dan Wilkinson (1994), OT Orlando Pace (1997)
Ohio State consistently produces NFL talent, but their last No. 1 pick came in 1997. Cousineau had a modest career with the Browns and 49ers, while Wilkinson started 182 games over 13 seasons.
Pace, however, stands out as a Hall of Famer, earning four All-Pro selections (two first-team) and seven Pro Bowl nods. As of 2024, Ohio State hasn’t added to this tally.
T-7) LSU: 3
Draft picks: TE Billy Cannon (1960), QB JaMarcus Russell (2007), QB Joe Burrow (2020)
Cannon earned All-Pro honors in 1961 and 1967 as a versatile talent. Russell is widely regarded as one of the biggest draft busts ever, despite his impressive college tools.
Burrow, however, has redefined LSU’s legacy at No. 1, leading the Bengals to two AFC Championship games and a Super Bowl in his first four seasons (through 2023), with a strong trajectory toward future accolades. No additional LSU players went No. 1 in 2024.
T-5) Auburn: 4
Draft picks: RB Tucker Frederickson (1965), RB Bo Jackson (1986), LB Aundray Bruce (1988), QB Cam Newton (2011)
Auburn’s quartet lacks a Hall of Famer but includes standout names. Jackson famously refused to sign with the Buccaneers, later joining the Raiders before a hip injury cut his career short. Newton, meanwhile, claimed an MVP award, Offensive Rookie of the Year, three Pro Bowl selections, and a Super Bowl appearance. Auburn has not added to this list as of 2024.
T-5) Stanford: 4
Draft picks: QB Bobby Garrett (1954), QB Jim Plunkett (1971), QB John Elway (1983), QB Andrew Luck (2012)
Stanford’s four No. 1 picks are all quarterbacks. Garrett’s career was brief, with just 30 NFL pass attempts, but Plunkett and Elway each won two Super Bowls, with Elway earning a Hall of Fame nod. Luck’s potential Hall of Fame path was derailed by injuries, leading to an early retirement. No new Stanford players were selected No. 1 in 2024.
T-2) Notre Dame: 5
Draft picks: QB Angelo Bertelli (1944), QB Boley Dancewicz (1946), WR Leon Hart (1950), HB Paul Hornung (1957), DE Walt Patulski (1972)
Notre Dame boasted four No. 1 picks in a 13-year span from 1944 to 1957, but their last came in 1972 with Patulski. Hornung shines as a Hall of Famer in both college and pro football, celebrated for his versatility—honored annually since 2010 with the Paul Hornung Award. Notre Dame’s drought at No. 1 continues through 2024.
T-2) Oklahoma: 5
Draft picks: DE Lee Roy Selmon (1976), RB Billy Sims (1980), QB Sam Bradford (2010), QB Baker Mayfield (2018), QB Kyler Murray (2019)
Selmon’s 78.5 sacks over nine seasons with the Buccaneers earned him a Hall of Fame spot. Sims and Bradford battled injuries but showed productivity when healthy.
Mayfield and Murray have added modern flair, with Mayfield revitalizing his career and Murray excelling as a dual-threat QB. Oklahoma also saw LB Brian Bosworth go No. 1 in the 1987 supplemental draft. No new additions came in 2024.
T-2) Georgia: 5
Draft picks: HB Frankie Sinkwich (1943), HB Charley Trippi (1945), WR Harry Babcock (1953), QB Matthew Stafford (2009), DE Travon Walker (2022)
Trippi is Georgia’s lone Hall of Famer from this group, with an NFL Championship and All-Pro honors in 1948. Stafford, with 57,978 passing yards (10th all-time) and 366 touchdowns (11th) through 2024, plus a Super Bowl win, is on a Hall of Fame track.
Walker, selected in 2022, is still early in his career with the Jaguars. Georgia’s count remains at five as of 2024.
1) USC: 6
Draft picks: OT Ron Yary (1968), RB O.J. Simpson (1969), RB Ricky Bell (1977), WR Keyshawn Johnson (1996), QB Carson Palmer (2003), QB Caleb Williams (2024)
USC holds the record for the most No. 1 picks, cemented by the Chicago Bears selecting QB Caleb Williams in the 2024 NFL Draft. Yary and Simpson are Hall of Famers, while Johnson and Palmer delivered Pro Bowl-caliber careers.
KEEP READING: Most NFL Draft Picks by School
Bell notched a 1,200-yard season in 1979. Williams, in his rookie year with the Bears in 2024, has shown promise, throwing for over 2,000 yards through 13 games, though his long-term impact remains to be seen. USC’s six No. 1 picks lead all programs entering the 2025 NFL Draft.
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