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The NFL announced on Thursday the names of 42 players who have been granted special eligibility for the 2026 NFL Draft and 21 underclassmen who have fulfilled their degree requirements with college football eligibility remaining and are also eligible for selection in the draft. The 2026 draft is scheduled to be held April 23-25 in Pittsburgh.
Sixteen players applied for special eligibility prior to the newly instituted early “soft” deadline of Jan. 5, which was added to assist players and all-star game organizers in the planning and invitation process. Twenty-six additional players submitted their petitions prior to the traditional deadline of Jan. 14 to apply for special eligibility for the 2026 draft. This list does not include players that are playing in the FBS National Championship Game on Jan. 19. For those players, a “Championship” deadline of Jan. 23 has been added.
