NFL Big Data Bowl 2027
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Quick Answer
The NFL's Kaggle analytics contest. US$100,000 in prizes; finalists win US$10,000 (about ₹9.5 lakh) and pitch at the 2027 Scouting Combine for US$10,000 more.
- Funding amount
- Varies
- Funding type
- Competition
- Provider
- National Football League
- Application deadline
- 61d — 7 Jan 2027
- Location
- International
About this competition
NFL Big Data Bowl 2027 is an online football analytics competition run by the National Football League (NFL) on Kaggle. It is hackathon-style: each team makes one submission, and the NFL judges it against the judging criteria published on the competition website. The prize pool is US$100,000 (about ₹95 lakh), each finalist wins US$10,000 (about ₹9.5 lakh), and the final submission deadline is 6 January 2027 at 11:59 PM UTC, which is 5:29 AM IST on 7 January.
It is open worldwide to Kaggle users, and India is not on the list of excluded places. This is a skill competition, not a grant or an accelerator: you win by ranking well, not by pitching a business plan.
What the program offers
The US$100,000 pool is split across three prize groups. The Open Track is worth US$45,000: three finalists win US$10,000 each (about ₹9.5 lakh each) and three runners-up win US$5,000 each. The University Track is also worth US$45,000 with the same split of three finalists at US$10,000 and three runners-up at US$5,000.
The Grand Prize is worth US$10,000. Every finalist is invited to present at the 2027 NFL Scouting Combine, and one team wins the extra US$10,000 there, so a finalist can take home up to US$20,000 (about ₹19 lakh). You cannot submit to the Grand Prize directly; you reach it by becoming a finalist in the Open or University Track.
These are competition prizes, not loans and not investments. The competition data is licensed for non-commercial use only (CC BY-NC 4.0), and winning work is released as open source, so it is a showcase, not a base for a commercial product.
Who can apply
Anyone with a registered Kaggle account can take part, as long as they are at least 18 (or the age of majority where they live, if that is higher) and do not live in an excluded place. Residents of Crimea, the so-called Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics, Cuba, Iran and North Korea, and anyone under US export controls or sanctions, are excluded. You may enter alone or in a team of up to five people, and each person may hold only one Kaggle account.
For an Indian founder or team this means you can enter from India. Under-18s may take part with parental or guardian consent but cannot win a prize. Employees, interns, contractors, officers and directors of the NFL, Kaggle and their affiliates can take part but cannot win prizes. Prizes cannot go to residents of a country where they cannot be awarded.
This suits sports-analytics students, data scientists and small sports-tech teams with an interest in American football. The source we hold does not spell out the University Track entry conditions, so read the competition website. It is a poor fit if you want funding for a business, because the reward is a prize and a chance to present.
How to apply
There is no application form or business plan. You join through the competition page on Kaggle, accept the rules, and submit solutions that are scored automatically. The competition started on 6 October 2026. The final submission deadline is 6 January 2027 at 11:59 PM UTC (5:29 AM IST on 7 January). Judging runs from 7 to 25 January 2027 and results are expected on 26 January 2027.
Because there is only one submission per team, there is no leaderboard to climb. A practical tip: read the full rules tab before you start, because it is the binding document and this page is only a summary of it.
How applications are judged and what happens next
Each submission is scored automatically on the competition's evaluation metric, and prizes go to the best-ranked teams on the final leaderboard. Potential winners must hand over their code and documentation, license the winning solution as the rules require, and return prize acceptance documents within two weeks of being asked. Prizes are paid about 30 days after those documents are received; team prizes are split evenly unless the team agrees otherwise.
About the NFL
The sponsor of this competition is the National Football League (NFL), and the competition is hosted on Kaggle, an online platform where teams compete on data and machine-learning problems. The source does not give further background on the sponsor.
Things to check before you apply
- Under-18s may take part with parental or guardian consent but cannot win a prize.
- Winners must hand over their work, license it as the rules require and return prize acceptance documents, including US tax forms. An Indian winner should ask an adviser about tax on foreign prize income; the source does not give those rules.
- The Scouting Combine presentation is an in-person event. The source summary does not say whether travel costs are covered, so check the competition website before assuming they are.
- A practical tip: if you are a startup founder, treat this as a way to build credibility and test your technical team, and do not budget the prize money as funding, since only the top places are paid.
Eligibility
See if you're eligible
Full eligibility criteria — entity type, stage, sector, founder profile and registration requirements — plus your fit for this program. Sign up to view.
Organizers
Prizes & Awards
What You Get
Prizes add up to US$100,000 (about ₹95 lakh). The Open Track and the University Track each pay US$10,000 (about ₹9.5 lakh) to three finalists and US$5,000 to three runners-up. All six finalists are invited to present at the 2027 NFL Scouting Combine, where one team wins a US$10,000 Grand Prize on top, for up to US$20,000 (about ₹19 lakh) in total. Winning work is released as open source.
- Disbursement
- Lump Sum
- Bootstrap friendly
- Yes
Timelines & Process
Selection Process
Each submission is scored automatically on the competition's evaluation metric, and prizes go to the best-ranked teams on the final leaderboard. Potential winners must hand over their code and documentation, license the winning solution as the rules require, and return prize acceptance documents within two weeks of being asked. Prizes are paid about 30 days after those documents are received; team prizes are split evenly unless the team agrees otherwise.
Application Process
- 1
Join on Kaggle
Sign in to Kaggle and accept the competition rules.
You - 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
How to apply
Four steps from draft to disbursement — one action each.
- 1
Submit on the official portal
Use the official application link and verify all details before final submission.
- 2
Follow up
Reach out 5–7 days after submitting to confirm receipt and ask about the review timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can enter NFL Big Data Bowl 2027?
Any Kaggle user aged 18 or older (or the age of majority where they live, if higher) can enter, alone or in a team of up to five. Residents of Crimea, the so-called Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics, Cuba, Iran and North Korea, and anyone under US export controls or sanctions, cannot take part. Each person may have only one Kaggle account.
Can Indian startups and founders apply for NFL Big Data Bowl 2027?
Yes. The rules exclude only the places named above, and India is not among them, so people in India can enter. Prizes are paid in US dollars and cannot go to people living in a country where prizes cannot be awarded. The source does not give Indian tax rules, so check with an adviser if you win.
How much can I win in NFL Big Data Bowl 2027?
The total pool is US$100,000 (about ₹95 lakh). Each of the three finalists in the Open Track and in the University Track wins US$10,000 (about ₹9.5 lakh), and each of the three runners-up in each track wins US$5,000. One team also wins an extra US$10,000 Grand Prize at the 2027 NFL Scouting Combine, so a finalist can take home up to US$20,000 (about ₹19 lakh).
How is the prize money paid?
Potential winners must return prize acceptance documents within two weeks of being asked. Prizes are paid about 30 days after those documents are received, and team prizes are split evenly unless the team agrees otherwise. The source summary does not name the payment method.
What is the deadline for NFL Big Data Bowl 2027, and what if it has passed?
The final submission deadline is 6 January 2027 at 11:59 PM UTC, which is 5:29 AM IST on 7 January. After that you cannot enter this edition. The source does not say when the next Big Data Bowl will run.
Is NFL Big Data Bowl 2027 a grant or equity?
It is a competition prize. You win money by ranking well, and the source summary describes no equity or ownership being taken. Winners must release or license their solution as the rules require, so check the licence before you enter.
What documents or materials do I need?
You make one submission for your team that follows the deliverables on the competition website. If you win, you are asked for your work and prize acceptance documents, including US tax forms.
Do I have to travel anywhere?
The competition itself is online. Finalists are invited to present at the 2027 NFL Scouting Combine, which is an in-person event, and the source summary does not say whether travel is covered.
Is it free to enter NFL Big Data Bowl 2027?
The source summary does not state an entry fee, and joining a Kaggle competition is done through a free Kaggle account. Check the competition page to confirm before you submit.
When are the results of NFL Big Data Bowl 2027 announced?
Judging runs from 7 to 25 January 2027 and results are expected on 26 January 2027. Finalists are then invited to present at the 2027 NFL Scouting Combine, where the Grand Prize is awarded; the source does not give the Combine date.
Sources
Data on this page is compiled from official program and provider references.
