When it comes to college football, the Southeastern Conference is widely regarded as the strongest conference. The SEC comprises 16 teams with many talented players who play highly competitive games throughout the season.

The grip held by the SEC and Big Ten on college football has grown more powerful in recent years, and now their collective reign of dominance also extends to the NFL Draft. Nearly 60 percent of the NFL’s 257 selections in seven rounds belonged to either the SEC (79) or Big Ten (71).

The first round of the 2025 NFL Draft was dominated by power conference schools, as the SEC and Big Ten were ubiquitous during Thursday night's action with 26 of the first 32 picks coming from the two most powerful conferences in the sport.