History of AP poll in Timeline

The Associated Press (AP) poll ranks the top 25 NCAA teams weekly in Division I football, men's basketball, and women's basketball. Sixty-two sportswriters and broadcasters nationwide submit individual top 25 rankings. Points are assigned based on rank (25 for first, down to 1 for twenty-fifth), and these are totaled to create the national ranking. Voting members' ballots are made public.

November 1934: AP Conducts Early Poll

In November 1934, the Associated Press (AP) conducted one of its earliest polls of sports writers to determine the best college football teams in the country by popular opinion.

1935: Three-Way Tie Declared

In 1935, AP sports editor Alan J. Gould declared a three-way tie for national champion in football between Minnesota, Princeton, and Southern Methodist. Minnesota fans protested, leading to calls for a poll of sports editors.

1936: AP Poll Ranks 20 Teams

From 1936 to 1988, the AP poll ranked twenty teams in the nation.

1936: Weekly AP College Football Poll Born

In 1936, the weekly AP college football poll was established and has run continuously since then.

1936: Number One Ranked Team Statistics

Through the 2023 season, the number one ranked team has faced the number two ranked team 54 times since the inception of the AP poll in 1936. The number one team has a record of 29–21–2 (.577) against the number two team.

1947: AP Releases Unofficial Post-Bowl Poll

At the end of the 1947 season, the AP released an unofficial post-bowl poll that differed from the regular season final poll.

1948: AP Compiles Basketball Rankings

In 1948, the AP began compiling a ranking of the top 20 college men's basketball teams during the 1948–1949 season.

1949: AP Compiles Basketball Rankings

In 1948, the AP began compiling a ranking of the top 20 college men's basketball teams during the 1948–1949 season.

1950: AP Begins Preseason Poll

In 1950, the AP began conducting a preseason poll for college football.

1950: Coaches Poll Published

In 1950, the Coaches Poll was published by the United Press.

1950: AP Issues Basketball Poll Continuously

The AP has issued a basketball poll continuously since the 1950–1951 season.

1951: AP Issues Basketball Poll Continuously

The AP has issued a basketball poll continuously since the 1950–1951 season.

1954: Split National Title

In 1954, one of eleven different occasions took place where two major polls disagreed on the No. 1 team.

1957: Coaches Poll Published

In 1957, the Coaches Poll was published by the United Press.

1958: Coaches Poll Published

In 1958, the Coaches Poll was published by the United Press International.

1961: AP Poll Only Recognizes Ten Teams

From 1961 to 1967, the AP poll only recognized the top ten teams.

1964: Alabama Named National Champion, Loses Orange Bowl

In 1964, Alabama was named the national champion in the final AP Poll following the completion of the regular season, but lost in the Orange Bowl to Texas. Arkansas defeated Nebraska in the Cotton Bowl and was the only undefeated, untied team.

1965: Split National Title

In 1965, one of eleven different occasions took place where two major polls disagreed on the No. 1 team.

1965: Michigan State Loses Rose Bowl

In 1965, top-ranked Michigan State lost to UCLA in the Rose Bowl, number two Arkansas lost to LSU in the Cotton Bowl, and fourth-ranked Alabama defeated third-ranked Nebraska in the Orange Bowl, vaulting the Crimson Tide to the top of the AP's final poll.

1967: AP Poll Only Recognizes Ten Teams

From 1961 to 1967, the AP poll only recognized the top ten teams.

1968: Post-Bowl Game Poll Becomes Permanent

Beginning in 1968, the post bowl game poll became permanent and the AP championship reflected the bowl game results.

1968: AP Releases Final Poll After Bowl Games

Until the 1968 college football season, the final AP poll of the season was released following the end of the regular season, with the lone exception of the 1965 season.

1970: Split National Title

In 1970, one of eleven different occasions took place where two major polls disagreed on the No. 1 team.

1973: Split National Title

In 1973, one of eleven different occasions took place where two major polls disagreed on the No. 1 team.

1974: Split National Title

In 1974, one of eleven different occasions took place where two major polls disagreed on the No. 1 team.

1974: UPI Follows Suit

In 1974, the UPI (United Press International) followed suit with the coaches' poll.

1976: Women's Basketball Poll Begins

In 1976, the women's basketball poll began during the 1976–1977 season.

1977: Women's Basketball Poll Begins

In 1976, the women's basketball poll began during the 1976–1977 season.

1978: Split National Title

In 1978, one of eleven different occasions took place where two major polls disagreed on the No. 1 team.

1988: AP Poll Ranks 20 Teams

From 1936 to 1988, the AP poll ranked twenty teams in the nation.

1989: Basketball Poll Expands to 25 Teams

Beginning with the 1989-1990 season, the AP basketball poll expanded to 25 teams.

1989: Women's Basketball Poll Top 20

Through 1989, the women's basketball poll continued to be a top 20 poll.

1990: Basketball Poll Expands to 25 Teams

Beginning with the 1989-1990 season, the AP basketball poll expanded to 25 teams.

1990: Coaches Poll Published

In 1990, the Coaches Poll was published by the United Press International.

1990: Women's Basketball Poll Increased to 25

In 1990, the women's basketball poll number was increased to 25 and subsequent years.

1991: Coaches Poll Published

In 1991, the Coaches Poll was published by USA Today and CNN.

1994: AP Takes Over Women's Basketball Poll

In 1994, the AP took over administration of the women's basketball poll from Greenberg and switched to a panel of writers. The AP voting was delayed for one day due to a special game between Tennessee and Connecticut.

1996: Coaches Poll Published

In 1996, the Coaches Poll was published by CNN.

1997: Bowl Championship Series Developed

In 1997, the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) was developed to unify poll results by picking two teams for a national championship game. The AP Poll factored in the determination of the BCS rankings.

1997: Coaches Poll Published

In 1997, the Coaches Poll was published by ESPN.

2003: Split National Title

In 2003, one of eleven different occasions took place where two major polls disagreed on the No. 1 team.

2003: BCS System Breaks Down

In the 2003 season, the BCS system broke down when the final BCS standings ranked USC at No. 3, while the human polls in the system ranked USC at No. 1. This led to a split national title and embarrassment for the BCS.

2004: Controversy Erupts

In 2004, Auburn and Utah finished the regular season 12–0 but were left out of the BCS title game. Texas coach Mack Brown lobbied for his team to be moved higher in the ranking. Ultimately, the AP Poll voters became targets for fan ire.

2004: AP Asks Poll Not Be Used in BCS Rankings

In 2004, the AP asked that its poll no longer be used in the BCS rankings due to controversy, leading to the creation of the Harris Interactive College Football Poll.

2005: Coaches Poll Published

In 2005, the Coaches Poll was published by ESPN.

2005: Last Season AP Poll Used in BCS Rankings

The 2004–2005 season was the last season that the AP Poll was used in the BCS rankings.

2012: AP Begins Pro Football Ranking

Beginning in 2012, the AP began issuing a weekly pro football ranking, the AP Pro32 rankings.

2023: Number One Ranked Team Statistics

January 10, 2024: AP Publishes Article Detailing Basketball Poll

On January 10, 2024, the Associated Press published an article detailing their 75th anniversary of the AP poll for men's college basketball and highlighted Kentucky, North Carolina, Duke, Kansas and UCLA as the top 5 programs.