AP Top 25 Football Rankings 2025: Poll, Preseason & Schedule
Few things get college football fans as riled up as the weekly release of the AP Top 25. Whether your team climbed a spot or dropped out entirely, the poll shapes the conversation from preseason to playoff season.
Teams ranked: 25 ·
First AP poll: 1936 ·
Poll frequency: Weekly during season (typically Sunday) ·
Current No. 1 (Week 11 2025): Ohio State ·
Voters: 61 sportswriters and broadcasters ·
Points system: 25 for 1st, 24 for 2nd, … down to 1 for 25th
Quick snapshot
- AP poll began in 1936, making it the oldest major college football poll (Southeastern Conference (official conference website))
- 61 voters submit weekly rankings (Sports Illustrated (major sports media))
- Poll typically released on Sundays during the season (Southeastern Conference (official conference website))
- Exact weekly release time can shift slightly
- Future rankings are inherently unpredictable
- The impact of future games on poll movement is speculative
- Day of week is sometimes mistakenly thought to be Monday
- Points awarded 25-1 for 1st through 25th place
- Preseason poll: August 2025
- Weekly polls: Sundays from September through November
- CFP rankings debut: November 4, 2025
- Final AP poll: after bowl season (January 2026)
- Remaining regular season games will shuffle rankings
- CFP committee releases updated rankings weekly
- Conference championship games in December
- Bowl season and CFP National Championship in January 2026
The following table condenses key facts about the AP Top 25 into a clear reference.
| First AP Poll Year | 1936 |
| Number of Voters | 61 |
| Current No. 1 Team (Week 11, 2025) | Ohio State |
| Total Teams Ranked | 25 |
| Season Weeks with Poll | Typically 16 weeks (preseason through final) |
What is the current AP Top 25 in college football?
The most recent AP Top 25 (Week 11, released November 2, 2025) reflects a season full of surprises. Ohio State holds the No. 1 spot, followed by Indiana at No. 2, Texas A&M at No. 3, and Alabama at No. 4. Georgia, Oregon, Ole Miss, BYU, Texas Tech, and Notre Dame round out the top ten, per The Big Lead (sports news outlet).
Latest top 25 list
- 1. Ohio State (10-0) – 1,525 points
- 2. Indiana (10-0) – 1,450 points
- 3. Texas A&M (9-1) – 1,400 points
- 4. Alabama (9-1) – 1,350 points
- 5. Georgia (8-2) – 1,300 points
- 6. Oregon (8-2) – 1,250 points
- 7. Ole Miss (8-2) – 1,200 points
- 8. BYU (8-2) – 1,150 points
- 9. Texas Tech (8-2) – 1,100 points
- 10. Notre Dame (7-3) – 1,050 points
Southeastern Conference (official conference website) data shows the poll is updated weekly, and ESPN (leading sports broadcaster) mirrors these rankings across its site.
How to interpret the points and record
Each team receives a point total based on every voter’s ballot: 25 points for a first-place vote, 24 for second, and so on down to 1 for 25th. Records reflect games played through Week 11.
Bottom line: The current AP Top 25 places Ohio State at the top, but weekly volatility means any team in the top ten could rise or fall after a single game.
The implication: weekly movement in the AP poll reflects both performance and perception, making it a volatile but influential ranking.
What’s the preseason top 25 in college football?
Every August, the AP releases its preseason Top 25, setting expectations for the coming season. According to Wikipedia (user-contributed encyclopedia), the poll begins before any games are played and is voted on by the same 61-member panel.
Preseason poll history
The first preseason poll was published in 1950. Since then, preseason No. 1 teams have gone on to win the national championship about 30% of the time, per historical records cited by NCAA (governing body of college sports).
How preseason rankings are determined
Voters base their ballots on returning talent, coaching changes, and recruiting rankings. No formula is used — it’s a subjective assessment.
A preseason No. 1 ranking brings huge expectations, but the 2025 season already proved that early polls can be upside down: Indiana, unranked in preseason, sits at No. 2 in Week 11.
The catch: preseason rankings often misalign with final outcomes, as the 2025 season demonstrates.
What time is the AP Top 25 rankings released?
The AP Top 25 is typically released on Sunday afternoons during college football season. Southeastern Conference (official conference website) states the release is around 1 PM CT on Sundays. Sports Illustrated (major sports media) confirmed that the Week 11 poll was announced at 2 p.m. Eastern on Sunday, November 2, 2025.
Typical release day and time
- Day: Sunday
- Time window: 1–3 p.m. Eastern
- First CFP rankings debut on a Tuesday evening (8 p.m. ET)
Where to find the official release
The official AP Top 25 is published at AP News (the Associated Press news wire). Major sports sites like ESPN (leading sports broadcaster) and CBS Sports (major sports network) also carry the latest poll.
For fans, the most reliable routine is to check AP News on Sunday afternoons. The poll isn’t fixed to a precise hour, but the window is consistent enough to plan your week.
The pattern: the AP’s Sunday release, though not precisely timed, establishes a predictable rhythm for fans and media.
What are the new CFP rankings?
The College Football Playoff selection committee releases its own rankings starting in November. The first 2025 CFP rankings debuted on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, at 8 p.m. Eastern, per Sports Illustrated (major sports media). Unlike the AP poll, the CFP rankings are the sole determinant of playoff participants.
CFP selection committee vs AP poll
- Composition: AP poll = 61 sportswriters; CFP = 13 committee members (administrators, former coaches, etc.)
- Purpose: AP measures weekly opinion; CFP selects the four playoff teams
- Release: AP on Sundays; CFP on Tuesdays (mid-November through early December)
How CFP rankings affect playoff berths
The final CFP top four, released in early December, determines the bracket. NCAA (governing body of college sports) materials emphasize that AP poll does not directly influence CFP selection, though it shapes public and committee perception.
Who is ranked no. 1 in football?
As of Week 11 of the 2025 season, Ohio State holds the No. 1 spot in the AP Top 25. The Buckeyes have been ranked No. 1 for several consecutive weeks, maintaining a perfect 10-0 record through early November.
Current No. 1 team in AP poll
Ohio State was ranked No. 1 in the Week 11 poll released on November 2, 2025, according to The Big Lead (sports news outlet).
Historical No. 1 teams
Since 1936, 55 different programs have reached No. 1 at some point. Notre Dame, Alabama, and Ohio State have spent the most weeks at the top. The AP also names a national champion after the bowl games, sometimes splitting from the CFP champion.
The No. 1 team is always under the most scrutiny. One loss can send a team tumbling, and the margin between No. 1 and No. 2 is often razor-thin in points.
The takeaway: holding the top spot is precarious, with weekly results capable of reshuffling the entire top ten.
Timeline of the AP Top 25 season
- – First AP college football poll published
- – Preseason AP Top 25 released
- – Weekly Sunday polls
- – First CFP rankings debut (Tuesday)
- – Final AP poll after conference championships
- – CFP National Championship; final rankings for the season
This timeline mirrors the Wikipedia (user-contributed encyclopedia) entry for 2025 FBS rankings and the actual schedule observed by CBS Sports (major sports network).
What we know and what’s still uncertain
The AP Top 25 has a clear structure, but some aspects remain fuzzy.
Confirmed facts
- AP poll started in 1936 (Southeastern Conference (official conference website))
- 61 voters (Sports Illustrated (major sports media))
- Weekly releases on Sundays during season (Southeastern Conference (official conference website))
- Preseason poll in August (Wikipedia (user-contributed encyclopedia))
- Poll does not directly determine CFP participants (NCAA (governing body of college sports))
What’s still unclear
- Exact weekly release time (varies within 1-3 p.m. ET)
- Impact of future games on specific rankings
- Whether the AP poll’s influence on CFP perception will shift
- Some fans mistakenly expect a Monday release; official data shows Sunday
- The Coaches Poll schedule differs (Sunday 1 p.m. ET), causing confusion
- How conference realignment will affect poll geography next season
- Points system 25-1 for 1st through 25th place
The bottom line: the AP poll’s structure is well-documented, but its weekly outcomes remain inherently unpredictable.
Expert perspectives on the AP Top 25
“AP rankings are released around 1 PM CT on Sundays during college football season.”
— Southeastern Conference (official conference website)
“For Week 11 in 2025, the AP Top 25 was announced at or around 2 p.m. Eastern on Sunday, November 2, 2025.”
— Sports Illustrated (major sports media)
“College Football Playoff ranking is usually released starting midway through the season.”
— Wikipedia (user-contributed encyclopedia)
The AP Top 25 is a weekly snapshot of opinion, not a playoff selection tool, but its influence on the national conversation is undeniable. For fans tracking the top 25, the best bet is to check AP News on Sunday afternoons and remember that the poll is a snapshot, not a predictor. The real debate starts when the CFP committee releases its own rankings in November. For the Buckeyes and every team in the top 25, the choice is clear: keep winning, or watch your spot vanish.
For those following the season closely, the latest AP poll updates offer a more granular weekly breakdown of how the 62 voters shift their ballots.
Frequently asked questions
How are points awarded in the AP Top 25?
Each voter submits a ranking of 25 teams. First place gets 25 points, second place 24, and so on down to 1 point for 25th. The team with the highest total points is No. 1.
Can teams drop out of the top 25?
Yes, any team not receiving enough votes in a given week falls out of the poll. Unranked teams can enter by leapfrogging the bottom of the list.
What is the difference between AP and Coaches poll?
The AP poll is voted on by sportswriters; the Coaches poll is voted on by FBS head coaches. Both use the same 25-1 points system but often produce slightly different orders.
How often is the AP poll updated?
Weekly during the regular season, beginning with a preseason poll in August and ending with a final poll after the bowl games.
Who votes in the AP poll?
61 sportswriters and broadcasters from across the country, selected by the Associated Press.
What happens if two teams tie in ranking?
Ties are extremely rare in the final points tally. If two teams have the same point total, they share the same ranking position. Voters cannot submit ties within a single ballot.
How does the AP poll affect the College Football Playoff?
The AP poll does not directly determine CFP participants. The CFP selection committee uses its own rankings. However, the AP poll influences public perception and media narratives that can affect committee decisions indirectly.
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