These 10 Teams Did Not Have A Player Selected In The 2026 NFL Draft

The 2026 NFL Draft has come and gone. More than 250 players heard their names called. The SEC led the way with 87 selections.

That mark set a new record for most players taken in one conference, besting the league’s previous total of 79. The Big Ten followed with 68 picks, including an event-best 10 first rounders.

The ACC and Big 12 each had 38 selections to round out the Power 4.

Every SEC team was represented in the 2026 selection process. Every other P4 league had at least three schools get snubbed.

Which teams did not have a player picked in the 2026 NFL Draft?

Three universities from the Big Ten were not mentioned over the weekend. The same was true for the Big 12. Meanwhile, the ACC had four schools go without a draft pick.

Based on the results of the 2025 college football season, that shouldn’t necessarily come as a surprise. For the most part, these teams were not very good.

It’s worth noting that transfers do not count towards these totals, regardless of whether or not the player started his career at one of these schools.

Let’s dive in.

Colorado

The Buffs struggled in 2025 after a strong 2024 campaign. Without Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter on the roster, Colorado was void of star power.

The team went just 3-9 last season.

Deion Sanders’ reliance on the portal has been questioned since taking over. Upon arrival, he was famously quoted as saying he was bringing his “Louis Vuitton luggage” with him in the form of high-profile transfers.

The approach failed him this past season, continuing a common theme in Boulder. There were no Buffs picked in 2022, 2023, or 2024, either, and just one in 2021.

North Carolina

The Tar Heels went 4-8 in the first year of the Bill Belichick era. They made embarrassing history at the 2026 NFL Draft.

For the first time in a decade, and just the fourth time since 1975, no North Carolina football players were selected.

That came after GM Michael Lombardi touted the Tar Heels as being the “33rd NFL Team” due to the program’s predication on mirroring pro organizations.

Oklahoma State

Oklahoma State was a disaster in 2025, losing 11 of 12 games. It resulted in the midseason firing of longtime head coach Mike Gundy.

Dating back to 1936, the school has had 176 players selected at the NFL Draft. None came in 2026.

It represents the seventh time since 1999 the Cowboys have been absent from the big boards.

Purdue

Purdue is not necessarily synonymous with college football success, with just six winning seasons dating back the last two decades. That has not prevented the school from being represented at the NFL Draft.

The Boilermakers had 15 players picked over the previous six events. None heard their name called in 2026.

The lack of talent showed on the football field as the team went 2-10 in ’25 while posting a second straight winless mark in conference play.

Syracuse

The Orange were one of four ACC schools that did not have a name called in the 2026 NFL Draft. That came after a 3-9 campaign in 2025.

The year prior, Syracuse saw four former players be selected by pro football franchises, though they were absent from the 2024 draft, too.

This is the fourth time since 2015 that no Syracuse players were picked. Fran Brown hopes to reverse the trend in 2027.

UCLA

The 2025 season was a down year for the Bruins, who went just 3-9 on the field. The program fired head coach Deshuan Foster just three games into his second season.

The failure to secure talent was evident. The NFL Draft omission was the direct result of poor play and roster construction.

UCLA is typically well-represented at the selection process. It hadn’t been shut out since 2012, piling up 53 picks across the last 13 events.

It was just the third time since 1943 that no Bruins were drafted.

Virginia

Virginia is a major outlier on this list. The Cavaliers went 11-3 last year, barely missing out on a College Football Playoff spot after losing in the ACC Championship game.

Despite the on-field success, no Cavs were selected in the 2026 NFL Draft.

This was the first time since 2021 that the school was not represented in the selection process after having one player picked in ’22, ’23, ’24, and ’25.

Virginia Tech

Virginia Tech is the third team on this list to have fired its head coach midseason. The Hokies relieved Brent Pry of his duties after an 0-3 start.

When the year concluded, Virginia Tech was 3-9.

The Hokies had five players picked the previous season and had only been snubbed one other time dating back to 1994. They’ll look to get back on the board in the first year of the James Franklin era.

West Virginia

West Virginia saw no player picked in the 2026 NFL Draft after the debut season of the Rich Rodriguez era (2.0). It was just the third occurrence since 2003.

The Mountaineers went 4-8 as a team in 2025. The roster was void of talent, ranking 110th or worst in both offensive and defensive scoring.

Rodriguez hopes to turn things around in Year 2.

Wisconsin

Wisconsin has been in a downward trajectory over the last few seasons, going just 4-8 in 2025. Luke Fickell’s seat grew hotter after the Badgers were snubbed at the 2026 NFL Draft.

The school is typically well-represented at the event. More than 300 players have been picked since 1936. No Wisconsin players were selected in Pittsburgh this April. It was the first time in nearly 50 years that was the case.

As a result, Fickell’s recruiting approach was questioned. He’ll look to erase that unfortunate history with a rebound in 2026. If not, it could cost him his job.