The Upside Index Big Board is built on 61,700+ rows of college football data going back to 2014. Here is how to get the most out of it during draft season.
The UI Score: What it is and what it isn't
The UI Score is a 0-100 composite metric based on college production quality, volume, efficiency, and positional context. It brackets into five tiers: Blue Chip (90+), Elite (80-89), Premium (70-79), Above Average (60-69), and Average/Below (below 60). The critical distinction: it is a college production metric, not a guarantee of NFL success. But it correlates strongly with draft capital and career outcomes. The score captures what a player did against college competition. It does not predict what he will do in the pros. That gap is where context, scheme fit, and medical evaluation live.
Using filters to narrow the board
The left sidebar contains filters for position group, score tier, and draft class. During draft season, use the 2026 Class filter to see only current prospects. The "Best/Latest Season" toggle is essential: select Latest Season to see where each prospect is right now, not their career peak. That removes the static-history problem and shows you the current version of the player. Use position filters to isolate groups you want to evaluate (EDGE, WR, OT, QB, etc.). Combine those filters to build custom views—for example, "2026 class, EDGE, Premium tier and above."
Reading a player card and understanding the panels
Click any row to open the detail panel. The big number is the UI Score. Below it: Position Stats Breakdown shows how the player produced in their specific position context (pass-rush rate for EDGE, yards per route for WR, etc.). Athletic Profile displays combine and pro-day testing results plus RAS (Relative Athletic Score). NFL Outcome, for alumni, shows real career data—Draft Round, Pro Bowls, Games Played. Draft Probability is a model estimate of the round the prospect will likely be selected. Historical Comps shows who this prospect compares to in the historical database. Outcome Probability shows boom, bust, and median percentages based on profile data.
Comparing players side by side
Use the pin-for-comparison button (two-arrow icon at the end of any row) to pin a prospect. Then click another prospect to launch a side-by-side comparison. The interface color-codes stats green for better and red for worse, making it easy to see where one prospect has an edge. This is essential when evaluating prospects in the same position or with similar score ranges. For example, comparing two premium-tier receivers shows you exactly where the production gaps are.
Connecting to the Mock Draft Simulator
Every player on the Big Board is available in the Mock Draft Simulator. The UI Score drives the CPU draft logic. When you select a team and manage their picks, the system knows the full scope of the board and will recommend prospects based on your team's needs and the overall value distribution. Launch the simulator from the top navigation and test different team strategies. The simulator uses the same data foundation as the Big Board, so the two tools work in concert.
Monitoring the board through combine season
The site updates as new combine and pro-day data comes in. The UI Score itself does not change based on testing—it remains anchored to production. But the Athletic Profile and RAS data update constantly. Check back weekly through the draft to see how new athleticism data reshapes prospect profiles. Use the comparison tool to spot gaps between testing (RAS) and production (UI). That gap is often where value lives.
Getting the most value from data-driven evaluation
The Big Board is a tool for reducing evaluation noise, not eliminating it. Production data is more predictive than testing data or stylistic preference. Use the filters to isolate tier and position. Use the comparisons to understand gaps between similar prospects. Use the simulator to test your team's strategic approach. Use the historical comparisons to understand what similar profiles have produced. The combination of these tools gives you a foundation for real draft analysis, not just guessing.