Shrine Bowl x SūmerSports
2026 Analytics Competition
Show NFL decision makers how your models and ideas can help them evaluate East-West Shrine Bowl players and see the game differently.
This competition is open to anyone, but built for people who want to break into the industry and show they can connect data to real football decisions. Top entries will be reviewed by leading minds in the football analytics space. Finalists will present live during East-West Shrine Bowl week in front of NFL evaluators.
"These competitions are career launchpads. Sūmer has recruited analysts who first showcased their skills through competition. This is how you break into sports analytics."
- Adam Vonder Haar, SumerSports VP Analytics
Important Dates
Your submission should reflect how you think, how you build, and how you communicate.
Key Events | Deadline | Details |
Submission Deadline | January 11, 2026 @ 11:59 PM ET | All submissions must be received before the deadline. Criteria for submission is below. |
Final Presentations | January 22 to 24, 2026 | Finalists will present live during the East-West Shrine Bowl in front of NFL teams. |
Winner Announcement | January 25, 2026 | Winner will be announced live during the half time of the Bowl Game. |
The Challenge
Have another idea? These are suggested focus areas, but creative approaches are encouraged.
Submissions
Review these requirements carefully, we want to make sure your hard work counts.
WHAT TO SUBMIT
- Slide deck (PPT or PDF) with a max of 10 slides. Appendices are allowed but it must fit within the 10 slides.
- Within the deck, outline how you approached the data and validated your work.
- Code link to GitHub or any notebook detailing your analysis (optional).
- Data sets, pre-packaged versions of the data or confidential/external proprietary data will not be accepted.
PROCESS
- Prepare your entry
- Final slide deck (max 10 slides)
- Code link if you choose to include it
- Contact info for all team members
- Email your submission
- Send to: shrine-AC[at]sumersports.com
- CC: each member of your team
- Subject line: Shrine x Sumer AC Submission – Your Name / Team Name
- Info for all team members:
- Name
- Current role (e.g. student, scout, etc.)
- LinkedIn profile (optional)
- Share your work online (optional)
- Post highlights on X
- Tag @ShrineBowl and @SumerSports
- Teams will retweet and amplify tagged posts
Scoring Mechanism
Entries are judged across three core areas.
FOOTBALL KNOWLEDGE
- Shows real understanding of how players are scouted and evaluated
- Uses correct football terminology and concepts
- Connects insights to how East-West Shrine Bowl participants might project in the draft process
ANALYSIS
- Work is reproducible, structured, and grounded in the data
- Demonstrates original thinking and blends football IQ with analytical rigor
- Shows how predictive metrics relate to historical East-West Shrine Bowl performance
PRESENTATION
- Clear flow, strong stitching between sections
- Tells the story in a way that’s easy to follow and easy to judge
Rules
Please read this section carefully to ensure your work qualifies and gets seen.
- Maximum of three people per team
- Full-time employed data scientists actively working on football projects connected to their organization’s goals are not eligible
- One submission per person or team
- Open-source data is allowed if it’s publicly accessible to all participants
- No external proprietary or confidential data
- All work must be original and free of plagiarism
- This is a competition, so operate in good faith
- No tactics that compromise other participants or the integrity of the event
- Finalists will have ten minutes to present during the live session
"Data tells the stories our eyes might miss. This competition is about uncovering the insights that help us celebrate and develop the incredible talent on this field."
- Eric Galko, East-West Shrine Bowl Director
Prizes
Finalists
- Present your work live at the East-West Shrine Bowl in front of NFL scouts, coaches, and executives
- Access to Shrine Bowl practices and events throughout the week
- Showcase your analysis science-fair style where NFL personnel can view your work
- Amplification across Shrine Bowl and SūmerSports channels
Winner
- Winning submission will be emailed with an introduction to the winning team to all 32 NFL clubs after the event
- Announced on all East-West Shrine Bowl and SūmerSports social media platforms
- Video interview conducted by East-West Shrine Bowl and SūmerSports posted on all social media platforms
- Additional prize to be announced
Travel and accommodations are not included but finalists will receive event access and credentials.