INDIANAPOLIS — The annual rite of spring for NFL franchises begins today as the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine gets underway at Lucas Oil Stadium, bringing together 319 of the nation's top college football players for the sport's most intense job interview.

Running through March 2, the combine will give all 32 NFL teams the chance to evaluate prospects through medical examinations, psychological testing, formal interviews, and the on-field workouts that have become appointment viewing for football fans across the country.

At the top of the marquee stands Fernando Mendoza, the Heisman Trophy winner whose electric college career has made him the most talked-about prospect in this year's draft class. Mendoza will look to solidify his status as a potential top pick, though the combine has historically been a place where risers emerge and presumed front-runners occasionally stumble.

Mendoza is far from the only name generating buzz in Indianapolis. Edge rushers David Bailey and Rueben Bain Jr. arrive with plenty of attention from teams desperate for pass-rushing help, a perennial priority in a league that increasingly revolves around getting to the quarterback. Running back Jeremiyah Love, whose combination of speed and vision made him one of college football's most dynamic playmakers, will also be under the microscope as teams evaluate whether he can translate his college dominance to the professional level.

Other notable names in the 319-prospect field include Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles, both of whom figure to draw significant interest from teams across the first two days of the draft. The depth of this class has scouts and general managers eager to get a closer look at prospects they have spent months studying on film.

While the first few days of the combine will be dedicated to measurements, medical evaluations, and the always-intriguing team interviews, the real spectacle begins Thursday, February 26, when on-field workouts kick off. Defensive linemen and linebackers will be the first position groups to take the field, giving fans and evaluators their first live look at how these athletes perform in the 40-yard dash, bench press, vertical jump, broad jump, three-cone drill, and shuttle run.

The on-field portion wraps up Sunday, March 1, with offensive linemen and specialists closing out the week of workouts. NFL Network will provide nearly 40 hours of live coverage throughout the event, ensuring that no rep, no split time, and no interview soundbite goes unnoticed by the football-obsessed public.

For the prospects, the combine represents an opportunity that extends far beyond the numbers they post. A strong showing can vault a mid-round projection into the first round, while a poor medical evaluation or a questionable interview can send a stock tumbling. The stakes are enormous, with millions of dollars and lifelong dreams hanging in the balance of every drill and every conversation.

For the teams, it is the final major piece of the pre-draft puzzle. The information gathered this week in Indianapolis will be cross-referenced with game film, school visits, and private workouts to build the comprehensive evaluations that will ultimately determine who gets selected and where.

As Lucas Oil Stadium transforms into the NFL's biggest stage for amateur talent, all eyes will be on the 319 young men chasing their dreams under the brightest of spotlights. By the time the combine concludes on March 2, the landscape of the 2026 NFL Draft will look very different than it does today.