NFL Scouting Combine 2026: Complete guide to dates, schedule, how to watch, and key details

NFL Scouting Combine 2026: A total of 319 prospects are participating overall. This event remains a key milestone in the draft evaluation process.

Aachal Maniyar
Published26 Feb 2026, 11:14 PM IST
NFL Scouting Combine 2026
NFL Scouting Combine 2026(X)

As the NFL offseason heats up, all eyes turn to Indianapolis for the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine, set to kick off its on-field workouts at 3 PM ET on Thursday, February 26.

Spanning four days at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, the combine features some of the most promising college football talents performing drills, measurements, and interviews in front of general managers, coaches, scouts, and other team evaluators.

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Key prospects to watch for

Notable invitees include standout quarterback Fernando Mendoza (Indiana), running back Jeremiyah Love (Notre Dame), linebacker Arvell Reese (Ohio State), and linebacker Sonny Styles (Ohio State), all of whom received invitations to showcase their skills.

A total of 319 prospects are participating overall. This event remains a key milestone in the draft evaluation process.

Key dates and venue for the 2026 NFL Combine

The 2026 NFL Scouting Combine will run from February 26 to March 1 at Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the Indianapolis Colts. This marks the 39th straight year in Indy since 1987, providing a familiar backdrop for scouts and executives.

Prospects have been arriving since earlier this week for preliminary activities, but on-field testing is set to start today.

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Daily workout schedule and start times

Thursday, February 26 (3-8 PM ET): Defensive linemen, linebackers, and placekickers get things started. Expect edge rushers and tacklers to showcase their burst and power.

Friday, February 27 (3-8 PM ET): Defensive backs and tight ends take over, highlighting coverage skills and receiving prowess.

Saturday, February 28 (1-8 PM ET): Quarterbacks, wide receivers, and running backs steal the show.

Sunday, March 1 (1-5 PM ET): Offensive linemen wrap it up, demonstrating footwork and blocking technique.

These sessions include iconic drills like the 40-yard dash, bench press, vertical jump, broad jump, three-cone drill, and shuttles, plus position-specific exercises.

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How to watch the 2026 NFL Combine live

Viewers can watch full workouts, press conferences, and analysis on NFL Network. Streaming is available exclusively through NFL+ on smartphones, tablets, and connected TVs, featuring live feeds, real-time results, insider breakdowns, and on-demand replays.

Additional carriers of NFL Network include DirecTV, Fubo, and ESPN. NFL.com hosts live trackers for key metrics and prospect updates.

What are the notable drills at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine 2026?

40-yard dash

Bench press

Vertical jump

Broad jump

Three-cone drill

20-yard shuttle

60-yard shuttle

In addition to the above drills, there are position-specific drills that players will participate in.

About the Author

Aachal Maniyar is a Senior Content Producer at LiveMint, where she covers US sports with a focus on major leagues, marquee events, and athlete-driven stories, while also reporting extensively on cricket and global sports. With over five years of first-hand journalism experience, she combines sharp editorial judgment with real-time sports storytelling across platforms. <br><br> Her reporting journey spans leading newsrooms including Thomson Reuters, India TV, BTVI, ET NOW, and CNBC TV18, where she has worked across breaking news, live match coverage, feature writing, interviews, video scripting, and anchoring. This multi-platform exposure has shaped her ability to deliver context-rich sports and business journalism tailored for both television and digital audiences. <br><br> Aachal has conducted and produced exclusive interviews with athletes and public figures such as India cricketer Dhruv Jurel, Indian women’s hockey captain Savita Punia, and industrialist Ratan Tata, along with several emerging and established sports personalities. Her body of work includes in-depth explainers, athlete profiles, emotionally resonant fan narratives, and data-backed match analysis across cricket, Olympic sports, and international competitions. <br><br> She holds a Master’s degree in Journalism from Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication, Pune, and believes in reporting that is grounded in accuracy, clarity, and credibility. Her philosophy is simple: sports journalism should go beyond scores and statistics, capturing the human stories, pressure moments, and decisions that shape the game and the people who play it.

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