History of AP poll in Timeline

The Associated Press (AP) poll is a weekly ranking of the top 25 NCAA teams in Division I football, men's basketball, and women's basketball. It's determined by polling 62 sportswriters and broadcasters nationwide. Each voter submits a ranking of the top 25 teams. Points are assigned based on ranking (25 for first, 24 for second, down to 1 for twenty-fifth), and these points are totaled to create the national ranking. The voting members' ballots are made public.

November 1934: AP conducts early poll

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

1935: Three-way tie declared

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

1936: AP poll ranks 20 teams

From 1936, the AP poll ranked only twenty teams, lasting until 1988 with a few exceptions.

1936: Weekly AP college football poll is born

In 1936, the weekly AP college football poll was created after suggestion to poll sports editors, and has been running continuously since then.

1936: Inception of the AP poll

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.

1947: AP releases an unofficial post-bowl poll

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

1948: AP begins ranking top 20 college basketball teams

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

1949: AP ranking of top 20 college basketball teams

During the 1948-1949 season, the AP started compiling a ranking of the top 20 college men's basketball teams.

1950: AP began conducting a preseason poll

In 1950, the AP began conducting a preseason poll to rank college football teams before the start of the season.

1950: Coaches Poll published by United Press

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

1950: AP has issued college basketball poll continuously since 1950

The AP has continuously issued its poll for ranking college men's basketball teams since the 1950–1951 season.

1951: AP has issued college basketball poll continuously since 1950

The AP has continuously issued its poll for ranking college men's basketball teams since the 1950–1951 season.

1954: Split National Title

In 1954, there was a "split" national title, where the AP and Coaches polls disagreed on the No. 1 team.

1957: Coaches Poll published by United Press

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

1958: Coaches Poll published by United Press International

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

1961: AP poll recognizes ten teams

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

1964: Alabama named national champion

In 1964, Alabama was named the national champion in the final AP Poll after the regular season, despite losing in the Orange Bowl, leaving Arkansas as the only undefeated team.

1965: AP waits to crown its champion

In 1965, the AP waited to crown its champion until after the bowl games, which proved beneficial as top-ranked teams lost, ultimately leading to Alabama being named the national champion in the final AP poll.

1965: Split National Title

In 1965, there was a "split" national title, where the AP and Coaches polls disagreed on the No. 1 team.

1967: AP poll still recognizes ten teams

Until 1967, the AP poll only recognized ten teams. The poll would eventually expand to 25 teams in 1989.

1968: Post bowl game poll becomes permanent

Beginning in 1968, the post bowl game poll became permanent, meaning the AP championship would reflect the bowl game results.

1970: Split National Title

In 1970, there was a "split" national title, where the AP and Coaches polls disagreed on the No. 1 team.

1973: Split National Title

In 1973, there was a "split" national title, where the AP and Coaches polls disagreed on the No. 1 team.

1974: Split National Title

In 1974, there was a "split" national title, where the AP and Coaches polls disagreed on the No. 1 team.

1974: UPI follows suit with coaches' poll

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

1976: Women's basketball poll began

The women's basketball poll began during the 1976–1977 season and was initially compiled by Mel Greenberg and published by The Philadelphia Inquirer.

1977: Women's basketball poll was telephone poll of coaches

During the 1976-1977 season, the women's basketball poll was a telephone poll of coaches, listing the top 20 teams.

1978: Split National Title

In 1978, there was a "split" national title, where the AP and Coaches polls disagreed on the No. 1 team.

1988: AP poll still ranks 20 teams

Up until 1988, the AP poll only ranked twenty teams, with the exception of 1961 to 1967.

1989: AP basketball poll expanded to 25 teams

Beginning with the 1989-1990 season, the AP poll for college men's basketball expanded to rank 25 teams.

1989: AP poll expands to 25 teams

In 1989, the AP poll expanded to ranking the Top 25 teams.

1989: Women's basketball poll was a top 20 poll

The women's basketball poll continued to be a top 20 poll through 1989.

1990: Coaches Poll published by United Press International

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

1990: Women's basketball poll number increased to 25

In 1990, the number of teams ranked in the women's basketball poll was increased to 25.

1990: AP basketball poll expanded to 25 teams

The 1989-1990 season saw the AP poll for college men's basketball expanding to rank 25 teams.

1991: Coaches Poll published by USA Today and CNN

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.

1996: Coaches Poll published by USA Today and CNN

In 1996, the Coaches Poll was published by USA Today and CNN.

1997: Bowl Championship Series (BCS) Developed

In 1997, the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) was developed to unify poll results and select two teams for a national championship game, factoring in the AP Poll among other rankings.

1997: Coaches Poll published by USA Today and ESPN

In 1997, the Coaches Poll was published by USA Today and ESPN.

2003: BCS system breaks down

During the 2003 season, the BCS system faced a breakdown when the final standings ranked USC at No. 3 while human polls ranked them No. 1, leading to USC's exclusion from the BCS national championship game and a split national title, highlighting the very problem the BCS was created to solve.

2003: Split National Title

In 2003, there was a "split" national title, where the AP and Coaches polls disagreed on the No. 1 team.

2004: Controversy erupts at the end of the season

In 2004, a controversy erupted at the end of the season regarding team rankings, particularly concerning Auburn and Utah, who were left out of the BCS title game, leading to discussions about ranking methodologies and fairness. Also, in that same year, Texas made up late ground on California (Cal) in the BCS standings and as a result grabbed a high-payout, at-large spot in the Rose Bowl.

2004: AP poll replaced in BCS rankings

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

2004: AP Demands Poll No Longer Be Used in BCS

In December 2004, the AP demanded that its poll no longer be used in the BCS rankings due to a series of controversies surrounding the BCS.

2005: Coaches Poll published by ESPN

In 2005, the Coaches Poll was published by ESPN.

2005: Last season that the AP Poll was used for BCS purposes

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

2012: AP began issuing weekly pro football ranking

In 2012, the AP began issuing a weekly pro football ranking, known as the AP Pro32 rankings.

2023: Number one team vs number two team stat

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.

January 10, 2024: AP publishes article detailing 75th anniversary of men's college 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, highlighting the most successful programs based on AP rankings.