Which college football conference won the 2020 NFL Draft? Where do they all rank when it comes to sending players to the next level?
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CFN 2020 NFL Draft Prospect Rankings
from the college perspective …
QB | RB | WR | TE | OT | OG & C
DE | DT | LB | CB | Safeties
Greatest NFL Draft Picks From Each School
ACC | Big Ten | Big 12 | Pac-12 | SEC
32 Greatest Draft Picks of All-Time
Full 2020 NFL Draft Order
2021 NFL Draft Top 32 Prospects
How did all the college football conferences do in the 2020 NFL Draft?
Which ones can brag, which ones sent the most talent off to the league of mercenaries, and which ones have to keep it quiet after the rough run?
A conference gets 7 points for each first round draft pick, 6 for a second, 5 for a third, 4 for a fourth, 3 for a fifth, 2 for a sixth, and 1 for a seventh round selection.
11. MAC (4 points)
TOTAL PICKS BY ROUNDS
1st 0, 2nd 0, 3rd 1, 4th 0, 5th 1, 6th 0, 7th 1
2019 NFL Draft Conference Ranking: 8
2018 NFL Draft Conference Ranking: 10
It was a rough, rough run for the MAC during 2020 NFL Draft weekend.
Ball State guard Danny Pinter stayed close to his college home getting selected by Indianapolis in the fifth round, and Miami University kicker Sam Sloman was selected by the LA Rams in the seventh round.
That’s it.
Conference Winner: Ball State, 1 player, 3 points overall
OG Danny Pinter (Indianapolis) 5th
2 Miami Univ. 1
T3 Akron 0
T3 Bowling Green 0
T3 Buffalo 0
T3 Kent State 0
T3 Ohio 0
T3 Central Michigan 0
T3 Eastern Michigan 0
T3 Northern Illinois 0
T3 Toledo 0
T3 Western Michigan 0
NEXT: 2020 NFL Draft Conference Rankings 10
10. Sun Belt (25 points)
A conference gets 7 points for each first round draft pick, 6 for a second, 5 for a third, 4 for a fourth, 3 for a fifth, 2 for a sixth, and 1 for a seventh round selection.
TOTAL PICKS BY ROUNDS
1st 0, 2nd 1, 3rd 1, 4th 2, 5th 1, 6th 1, 7th 1
2019 NFL Draft Conference Ranking: 11
2018 NFL Draft Conference Ranking: 11
After finishing dead last in the last two NFL Draft conference rankings, the Sun Belt came up with a relatively huge draft run. Last year there was just one player selected. This year, Louisiana made a splash with three guys going, headlined by OT Robert Hunt going in the second round to Miami to block for Tua Tagovailoa.
Appalachian State only had two players selected, but they were good ones. Tennessee took RB Darrynton Evans in the third, and LB Akeem Davis-Gaither went to Cincinnati early in the fourth.
Team Winner: Louisiana, 3 players, 11 points
OT Robert Hunt (Miami) 2nd
OG Kevin Dotson (Pittsburgh) 4th
RB Raymond Calais (Tampa Bay) 7th
1 Louisiana 11
2 Appalachian State 9
3 Georgia Southern 5
T4 Coastal Carolina 0
T4 Georgia State 0
T4 Troy 0
T4 Arkansas State 0
T4 South Alabama 0
T4 Texas State 0
T4 ULM 0
NEXT: 2020 NFL Draft Conference Rankings 9
9. Conference USA (32 points)
A conference gets 7 points for each first round draft pick, 6 for a second, 5 for a third, 4 for a fourth, 3 for a fifth, 2 for a sixth, and 1 for a seventh round selection.
TOTAL PICKS BY ROUNDS
1st 0, 2nd 0, 3rd 1, 4th 5, 5th 1, 6th 1, 7th 2
2019 NFL Draft Conference Ranking: 10
2018 NFL Draft Conference Ranking: 8
Only ten players were drafted, but they were significant. The fourth round gave the league a big boost after finishing ten out of the 11 conferences last year.
Five Conference USA players were selected in the fourth, with new New York Jet OG Cameron Clarke helping Charlotte win the league’s top spot. Pass rushing terror Alex Highsmith was the highest-drafted Conference USA player, going to Pittsburgh in the third.
Louisiana Tech did its part in the fourth round with L’Jarius Sneed (Kansas City) and Amik Robertson (Las Vegas) rolling off the board. That was enough to secure the league’s No. 2 draft spot.
Team Winner: Charlotte, 2 players, 9 points
DE/LB Alex Highsmith (Pittsburgh) 3rd
OG Cameron Clarke (NY Jets) 4th
2 Louisiana Tech 8
3 FIU 5
T4 Florida Atlantic 4
T4 Marshall 4
6 Southern Miss 2
T7 Middle Tennessee 0
T7 Old Dominion 0
T7 WKU 0
T7 North Texas 0
T7 Rice 0
T7 UAB 0
T7 UTEP 0
T7 UTSA 0
NEXT: 2020 NFL Draft Conference Rankings 8
8. Mountain West (36 points)
A conference gets 7 points for each first round draft pick, 6 for a second, 5 for a third, 4 for a fourth, 3 for a fifth, 2 for a sixth, and 1 for a seventh round selection.
TOTAL PICKS BY ROUNDS
1st 1, 2nd 1, 3rd 1, 4th 1, 5th 3, 6th 2, 7th 1
2019 NFL Draft Conference Ranking: 9
2018 NFL Draft Conference Ranking: 7
For a conference this strong, there’s way too much dead weight at the bottom when it comes to getting players to the next level.
Boise State only had three players picked, but starting with OT Ezra Cleveland going to Minnesota in the third round, that was enough to be the best of a mediocre lot of teams.
Utah State QB Jordan Love made the biggest splash as the guy who gets to try making Aaron Rodgers replaceable in Green Bay, and Wyoming had two good linebackers go in Logan Wilson to Cincinnati in the third round, and Cassh Malula to New England in the sixth.
Team Winner: Boise State, 3 players, 12 points
OT Ezra Cleveland (Minnesota) 2nd
DE Curtis Weaver (Miami) 5th
WR John Hightower (Philadelphia) 5th
T2 Utah State 7
T2 Wyoming 7
4 Fresno State 6
5 San Diego State 3
6 Hawaii 1
T7 Air Force 0
T7 Colorado State 0
T7 New Mexico 0
T7 Nevada 0
T7 San Jose State 0
T7 UNLV 0
NEXT: 2020 NFL Draft Conference Rankings 7
7. Independents 40 points)
A conference gets 7 points for each first round draft pick, 6 for a second, 5 for a third, 4 for a fourth, 3 for a fifth, 2 for a sixth, and 1 for a seventh round selection.
TOTAL PICKS BY ROUNDS
1st 0, 2nd 2, 3rd 2, 4th 2, 5th 2, 6th 2, 7th 0
2019 NFL Draft Conference Ranking: 7
2018 NFL Draft Conference Ranking: 9
Of course Notre Dame carries the water for the entire world of the independents, and it did it with a terrific run of six players drafted. Three Irish stars went before Day Three, but other independent teams chipped in a bit.
Consider UConn OT Matt Peart to the Giants in the third round a welcome to the neighborhood gift. He should’ve counted towards the American Athletic Conference total, but … nah.
BYU didn’t do anything to help the cause, but Liberty WR Antonio Gandy-Golden going to Washington and New Mexico State RB Jason Huntley being selected by Detroit in the fifth was nice.
Team Winner: Notre Dame, 6 players, 26 points
TE Cole Kmet (Chicago) 2nd
WR Chase Claypool (Pittsburgh) 2nd
DE/LB Julian Okwara (Detroit) 3rd
CB Troy Pride (Carolina) 4th
DE Khalid Kareem (Cincinnati) 5th
S Alohi Gilman (LA Chargers) 6th
2 Connecticut 5
3 Liberty 4
4 New Mexico State 3
5 UMass 2
T6 Army 0
T6 BYU 0
NEXT: 2020 NFL Draft Conference Rankings 6
6. American Athletic (46 points)
A conference gets 7 points for each first round draft pick, 6 for a second, 5 for a third, 4 for a fourth, 3 for a fifth, 2 for a sixth, and 1 for a seventh round selection.
TOTAL PICKS BY ROUNDS
1st 0, 2nd 0, 3rd 4, 4th 2, 5th 3, 6th 2, 7th 5
2019 NFL Draft Conference Ranking: 6
2018 NFL Draft Conference Ranking: 6
Holding firm as the best of the Group of Five conferences – or lowest among the self-proclaimed Power 6 – the American Athletic Conference didn’t move from its normal conference draft ranking.
UConn OT Matt Peart was credited to the Independents – count him here if it gets you into a twist – meaning 12 of the 14 conference teams from last year sent at least one player to the NFL.
Somewhat stunningly, Memphis and UCF were fine, but nothing amazing, and Cincinnati only gave up TE Josiah Deguara to Green Bay in the third round.
It was Temple that came up large – relatively speaking. C Matt Hennessy going to Atlanta in the third was the only money pick, but having three players go on Day Three at least boosts the football program’s profile.
Team Winner: Temple, 4 players, 11 points
C Matt Hennessy (Atlanta) 3rd
CB Harrison Hand (Minnesota) 5th
LB Shaun Bradley (Philadelphia) 6th
LB Chapelle Russell (Tampa Bay) 7th
T2 Memphis 7
T2 Tulsa 7
T4 Cincinnati 5
T4 Houston 5
T6 UCF 4
T6 Tulane 4
8 SMU 2
9 Navy 1
T10 East Carolina 0
T10 USF 0
NEXT: 2020 NFL Draft Conference Rankings 5
5. Big 12 (95 points)
A conference gets 7 points for each first round draft pick, 6 for a second, 5 for a third, 4 for a fourth, 3 for a fifth, 2 for a sixth, and 1 for a seventh round selection.
1st 5, 2nd 3, 3rd 4, 4th 1, 5th 4, 6th 2, 7th 2
2019 NFL Draft Conference Ranking: 5
2018 NFL Draft Conference Ranking: 5
Only 21 Big 12 players were selected, but they made a splash.
Texas didn’t do much of anything, Iowa State, Kansas State and Oklahoma State didn’t show up at all to the party, and Kansas managed to only get OG Hakeem Adeniji selected, going to Cincinnati in the sixth round.
Oklahoma did its part as always – WR CeeDee Lamb going to Dallas in the first round was fun – but it was TCU that made the most noise.
It’s been a down run for the Horned Frogs over the last two seasons, but the high-end talent has been there. Two players went in the first round, DT Ross Blacklock was a fringe first rounder – going to Minnesota in the second – and OT Lucas Niang went to Kansas City in the third.
Again, though, just 21 players – there might be only ten teams in the conference, there’s a reason why there’s a problem in the reputation fight with the SEC and Big Ten.
Team Winner: TCU, 5 players, 26 points
WR Jalen Reagor (Philadelphia) 1st
CB Jeff Gladney (Minnesota) 1st
DT Ross Blacklock (Houston) 2nd
OT Lucas Niang (Kansas City) 3rd
S Vernon Scott (Green Bay) 7th
2 Oklahoma 25
T3 Baylor 13
T3 Texas 13
5 Texas Tech 10
6 West Virginia 6
7 Kansas 2
T8 Iowa State 0
T8 Kansas State 0
T8 Oklahoma State 0
NEXT: 2020 NFL Draft Conference Rankings 4
4. ACC (99 points)
A conference gets 7 points for each first round draft pick, 6 for a second, 5 for a third, 4 for a fourth, 3 for a fifth, 2 for a sixth, and 1 for a seventh round selection.
TOTAL PICKS BY ROUNDS
1st 3, 2nd 3, 3rd 2, 4th 5, 5th 7, 6th 2, 7th 2
2019 NFL Draft Conference Ranking: 4
2018 NFL Draft Conference Ranking: 2
And you’re wondering why the ACC is Clemson and 13 other schools along for the football ride.
Florida State isn’t pulling its weight.
The Noles used to own this whole NFL Draft thing, and they only had one player – RB Cam Akers to the Rams in the second round – getting to go get paid. However, that’s going to change next year, especially in the first two rounds.
Four Miami players were selected, but it’ll be a reach of any of them – all Day Three guys – will stick, and everyone but Duke at least had a courtesy pick called at some point.
But Clemson dominated, and that was with some of its best talent – Trevor Lawrence, Travis Etienne, and Justyn Ross, just to start with – coming next year.
Team Winner: Clemson, 6 players, 34 points
LB Isaiah Simmons (Arizona) 1st
CB AJ Terrell (Atlanta) 1st
WR Tee Higgins (Cincinnati) 2nd
S Tanner Muse (Oakland) 3rd
OG John Simpson (Las Vegas) 4th
S K’Von Wallace (Philadelphia) 4th
C Tremayne Anchrum (LA Rams) 7th
2 Miami 12
T3 Louisville 7
T3 North Carolina 7
T5 Boston College 6
T5 Florida State 6
T5 Virginia 6
T8 Wake Forest 5
T8 Virginia Tech 5
T10 NC State 4
T10 Syracuse 4
12 Georgia Tech 2
13 Pitt 1
14 Duke 0
NEXT: 2020 NFL Draft Conference Rankings 3
3. Pac-12 (123 points)
A conference gets 7 points for each first round draft pick, 6 for a second, 5 for a third, 4 for a fourth, 3 for a fifth, 2 for a sixth, and 1 for a seventh round selection.
TOTAL PICKS BY ROUNDS
1st 3, 2nd 3, 3rd 6, 4th 7, 5th 3, 6th 7, 7th 3
2019 NFL Draft Conference Ranking: 3
2018 NFL Draft Conference Ranking: 4
It was a nice showing for the Pac-12, and it probably should’ve been a whole lot better. A few Washington players – most notably, OT Trey Adams – weren’t drafted and should’ve been, and Arizona had a few guys that at least should’ve gone with a late round flier.
Oregon didn’t do that much with just four players drafted. QB Justin Herbert going sixth overall to the LA Chargers was the big one, but the other three were Day Three prospects who might not stick.
Utah was the big star with CB Jaylon Johnson going to Chicago in the second round, three players being taken in the third, and so good late fits – like DE Bradlee Anae to Dallas – likely to make a splash from Day Three.
Team Winner: Utah, 7 players, 30 points
CB Jaylon Johnson (Chicago) 2nd
S Julian Blackmon (Indianapolis) 3rd
RB Zack Moss (Buffalo) 3rd
S Terrell Burgess (LA Rams) 3rd
DT Leki Fotu (Arizona) 4th
DE Bradlee Anae (Dallas) 5th
DT John Penisini (Detroit) 6th
2 Oregon 16
T3 UCLA 13
T3 USC 13
5 Colorado 12
6 Cal 11
7 Arizona State 8
8 Washington 7
9 Oregon State 6
10 Stanford 5
11 Washington State 2
12 Arizona 0
NEXT: 2020 NFL Draft Conference Rankings 2
2. Big Ten (172 points)
A conference gets 7 points for each first round draft pick, 6 for a second, 5 for a third, 4 for a fourth, 3 for a fifth, 2 for a sixth, and 1 for a seventh round selection.
TOTAL PICKS BY ROUNDS
1st 5, 2nd 7, 3rd 5, 4th 6, 5th 8, 6th 5, 7th 11
2019 NFL Draft Conference Ranking: 2
2018 NFL Draft Conference Ranking: 2
It’s not just Ohio State.
Okay, so it’s sort of Ohio State, with ten players selected from its Big Ten championship team a year after getting nine guys taken in the draft. Two of the top three picks were Buckeyes, seven went in the first three rounds, and the factory keeps on rolling.
But it really is more than that. 19% of the entire 2020 NFL Draft was made up of Big Ten players. Michigan had nine players drafted, which might seem high considering the program hasn’t been able to get over the hump and do something impressive. However, five of the Wolverines went in the sixth round.
Minnesota had a nice draft with five players selected – even though four went after the fourth round – and Penn State and Iowa did okay.
Wisconsin – for all of its success – only had four players taken, but that’s not really a bad thing. The 2020 team should be fantastic.
Illinois, Rutgers and Northwestern didn’t do their part – it was a harsh draft for the Illinois FBS programs – but Nebraska got on the board with DTs Khalil Davis and Carlos Davis picked.
And there was much rejoicing.
Team Winner: Ohio State, 10 players, 46 points
DE Chase Young (Washington) 1st
CB Jeff Okudah (Detroit) 1st
CB Damon Arnette (Las Vegas) 1st
RB JK Dobbins (Baltimore) 2nd
DT DaVon Hamilton (Jacksonville) 3rd
OG Jonah Jackson (Detroit) 3rd
LB Malik Harrison (Baltimore) 3rd
S Jordan Fuller (LA Rams) 6th
WR KJ Hill (LA Chargers) 7th
DT Jason Cornell (Detroit) 7th
2 Michigan 33
T3 Penn State 20
T3 Iowa 20
5 Wisconsin 18
6 Minnesota 14
7 Maryland 6
T8 Michigan State 5
T8 Purdue 5
10 Nebraska 3
11 Indiana 2
T12 Illinois 0
T12 Northwestern 0
T12 Rutgers 0
NEXT: 2020 NFL Draft Conference Rankings 1
1. SEC (296 points)
A conference gets 7 points for each first round draft pick, 6 for a second, 5 for a third, 4 for a fourth, 3 for a fifth, 2 for a sixth, and 1 for a seventh round selection.
TOTAL PICKS BY ROUNDS
1st 15, 2nd 10, 3rd 15, 4th 8, 5th 2, 6th 5, 7th 8
2019 NFL Draft Conference Ranking: 1
2018 NFL Draft Conference Ranking: 1
To all of the people out there who continue to complain and fight the idea that the SEC is the best conference in college football, it really is simple.
It just has a whole lot more talent than everyone else.
How obnoxious is it? The SEC accounted for 25% of the players selected in the last two NFL drafts.
That’s pretty good.
LSU just went off – even the freaking long snapper was drafted – with a ridiculous 14 players selected. The national champ dominated the first round with five players taken, and had ten players go before Day Three.
And overall, the SEC could’ve had a more go.
Ole Miss was the only school to get shut out, but it had three players who should’ve at least been late fliers. Tennessee got back on the board this year, and Vanderbilt had a player taken.
But with 15 picks in the first round, 63 players overall, and a whole lot more expected to come next year, the league keeps on dominating this NFL Draft thing.
Team Winner: LSU, 14 players, 73 points
QB Joe Burrow (Cincinnati) 1st
LB/DE K’Lavon Chaisson (Jacksonville) 1st
WR Justin Jefferson (Minnesota) 1st
LB Patrick Queen (Baltimore) 1st
RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire (Kansas City) 1st
S Grant Delpit (Cleveland) 2nd
CB Kristian Fulton (Tennessee) 2nd
OG Damien Lewis (Seattle) 3rd
C Lloyd Cushenberry (Denver) 3rd
LB Jacob Phillips (Cleveland) 3rd
OT Saahdiq Charles (Washington) 4th
DT Rashard Lawrence (Arizona) 4th
LS Blake Ferguson (Miami) 6th
TE Stephen Sullivan (Seattle) 7th
2 Alabama 56
T3 Florida 30
T3 Georgia 30
5 Auburn 29
6 Mississippi State 18
7 South Carolina 17
T8 Kentucky 9
T8 Missouri 9
T10 Tennessee 7
T10 Texas A&M 7
12 Arkansas 6
13 Vanderbilt 5
14 Ole Miss 0
CFN 2020 NFL Draft Prospect Rankings
from the college perspective …
QB | RB | WR | TE | OT | OG & C
DE | DT | LB | CB | Safeties
Greatest NFL Draft Picks From Each School
ACC | Big Ten | Big 12 | Pac-12 | SEC
32 Greatest Draft Picks of All-Time
Full 2020 NFL Draft Order
2021 NFL Draft Top 32 Prospects
