AP College Football Rankings 2025-26: Latest Top 25 Poll Updates
If you’ve ever wondered how a panel of 62 sportswriters and broadcasters decides who sits atop college football each week, you’re not alone. The AP Top 25 poll has shaped the sport’s narrative since 1936, and the 2025 season delivered one of its most compelling storylines: Indiana finished undefeated at 16-0 and claimed the No. 1 spot in the final poll released on January 20, 2026.
First AP poll published: 1936 ·
Number of voters: 62 sportswriters and broadcasters ·
Release day each week: Sunday during the season ·
Current No. 1 team: Indiana ·
Total teams ranked each week: 25
Quick snapshot
- Final No. 1: Indiana (16-0) (CBS Sports – AP Poll archive)
- Ohio State held No. 1 for 13 consecutive weeks in 2025 (Wikipedia – 2025 FBS rankings)
- Poll first published in 1936 (Wikipedia – AP Poll history)
- Exact future release dates beyond the current season
- Which team will be No. 1 next week
- Whether a specific team will rise or fall in upcoming polls
- 1936: First AP college football poll; Minnesota No. 1 (Wikipedia – AP Poll history)
- 2014: College Football Playoff replaces BCS; AP poll remains independent (NCAA – CFP overview)
- Preseason 2026 AP poll expected in August (AP News – official poll hub)
- Weekly polls resume every Sunday during the regular season (AP News – official poll hub)
The table below compiles the essential statistics behind the AP Top 25.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| First poll year | 1936 (CBS Sports – AP Poll archive) |
| Number of voters | 62 (Wikipedia – AP Poll) |
| Poll release day | Sunday (AP News – schedule) |
| Scoring system | 25-24-23…1 points per ballot (Wikipedia – AP Poll methodology) |
| Current No. 1 | Indiana (16-0) (CBS Sports – final 2025 poll) |
| Most No. 1 appearances | Alabama / Ohio State / Oklahoma (tie) (Wikipedia – all-time AP poll) |
What is the latest AP top 25 college football ranking?
Current No. 1 team and key movers
- Indiana finished the season undefeated at 16-0 and secured the No. 1 spot in the final AP Top 25, released January 20, 2026. The Hoosiers received all 62 first-place votes (CBS Sports – AP Poll final).
- Ohio State dropped to No. 5 after holding the top ranking for 13 straight weeks earlier in the season (Wikipedia – 2025 weekly rankings).
- Miami (Fla.) climbed to No. 2 with a 13-3 record, earning 1,584 points. For historical context on the Miami rivalry, see LSU vs Ole Miss: Magnolia Bowl History, Predictions, Scores
- Ole Miss (13-2) finished No. 3, Oregon (13-2) No. 4, and Georgia (12-2) No. 6 (Sports Reference – 2025 Coaches Poll).
Full top 25 list for this week
The complete final AP Top 25 for the 2025 season can be found on CBS Sports (CBS Sports – AP Poll archive). Here are the top 10 from the final poll:
- Indiana (16-0)
- Miami (Fla.) (13-3)
- Ole Miss (13-2)
- Oregon (13-2)
- Ohio State (12-2)
- Georgia (12-2)
- Texas Tech (12-2)
- Texas A&M (11-2)
- Alabama (11-4)
- Notre Dame (10-2)
For detailed head-to-head statistics between Oregon and Indiana, see our analysis: Oregon Ducks Football vs Indiana Hoosiers Football Stats
The implication: Indiana’s perfect season was historic — no Hoosiers team had ever finished No. 1 in the AP poll before, and the unanimous first-place votes underscore the dominance.
What time is the AP Top 25 released?
Regular season release schedule
- During the regular season, the AP Top 25 is typically released on Sundays at 2:00 p.m. ET (AP News – poll schedule).
- Voters submit their ballots Sunday morning, and the final tabulation is published in the afternoon (Wikipedia – AP Poll).
Postseason and preseason releases
- The preseason AP poll is released in August, usually the third Monday before the first game weekend (AP News – preseason).
- After the regular season, a final poll is published after the national championship game (the 2025 final came on January 20, 2026) (CBS Sports – final poll).
The Sunday afternoon release has been a consistent weekly ritual for decades, but the exact timing can change during bowl season.
Did Penn State fall out of the top 25?
Analysis of Penn State’s recent ranking changes
- According to the final AP Top 25 posted on CBS Sports, Penn State is not listed among the top 25 teams (CBS Sports – final poll).
- The Nittany Lions finished the season unranked after a late-season slide that included losses to Ohio State and Michigan.
Other notable teams that fell out of the top 25
- Texas managed to stay at No. 12 in the final poll, so the Longhorns did not fall out as some expected (CBS Sports – final poll).
- BYU finished at No. 11, well inside the top 25 (CBS Sports – final poll).
The pattern: The 2025 season saw several traditional powers drop out, including Penn State, while newcomers like Indiana and Texas Tech rose. The margin between ranked and unranked is often razor-thin.
Penn State’s absence from the top 25 highlights how quickly a program can fall when it lacks signature wins. For the Nittany Lions, next year’s schedule offers a chance to climb back, but the AP poll rewards consistency more than potential.
The pattern shows that even traditional powers can drop quickly without consistent performance.
Who is number one in college football?
Current No. 1 team in the AP poll
- Indiana holds the No. 1 spot in the final AP poll of the 2025 season, finishing undefeated at 16-0 (CBS Sports – final poll).
- The Hoosiers earned all 62 first-place votes, a rare unanimous consensus (CBS Sports – final poll).
Comparison with other major polls (Coaches, CFP)
- The Coaches Poll (USA Today) also ranked Indiana No. 1 at season’s end (Sports Reference – 2025 Coaches Poll).
- The College Football Playoff committee placed Indiana as the top seed in its final rankings, aligning with the AP poll (NCAA – CFP selection).
Why this matters: A unanimous No. 1 in the AP poll is a strong endorsement, but it doesn’t guarantee a national championship — the 1997 split championship between Michigan (AP) and Nebraska (Coaches) remains a cautionary tale.
For Indiana fans, the AP crown is a historic milestone. But the real test comes next season when they’ll face a target on their backs — no team has repeated as AP No. 1 since Alabama in 2012.
The upshot is that the AP crown is historical but does not guarantee future success.
Why was BYU left out of the CFP?
BYU’s AP ranking vs. CFP committee ranking
- BYU finished No. 11 in the final AP Top 25 with a 12-2 record (CBS Sports – final poll).
- The College Football Playoff committee, however, selected a different set of teams for the four-team playoff. The AP poll is a media ranking and does not influence CFP selection (NCAA – CFP selection process).
CFP selection criteria
- The CFP committee evaluates strength of schedule, head-to-head results, conference championships, and other factors (NCAA – CFP criteria).
- BYU’s schedule was deemed weaker than that of the four selected teams, even though the Cougars beat several ranked opponents.
The trade-off: BYU’s AP ranking shows they were one of the best teams in the country, but the CFP’s criteria favor teams from power conferences with tougher schedules. For independent schools like BYU, the path to the playoff is narrower.
Timeline
- 1936: First AP college football poll published; Minnesota ranked No. 1 (Wikipedia – AP Poll history).
- 1968: AP poll becomes the primary national championship selector (Wikipedia – AP Poll history).
- 1997: Split national championship: Michigan (AP) vs. Nebraska (Coaches) (Sports Reference – 1997 season).
- 2014: College Football Playoff replaces BCS; AP poll remains a weekly ranking (NCAA – CFP history).
- 2020: Pandemic season; AP poll adjusts schedule and includes some non-power conference teams (Wikipedia – 2020 FBS rankings).
- 2025: Ohio State holds No. 1 for 13 consecutive weeks; Indiana finishes No. 1 with perfect 16-0 record (CBS Sports – final poll).
The timeline shows how the AP poll has adapted to changes in college football.
Clarity check
Confirmed facts
- AP poll started in 1936 (Wikipedia – AP Poll history).
- Voters are sportswriters and broadcasters (Wikipedia – AP Poll).
- Poll is released weekly on Sunday during the regular season (AP News – schedule).
- Points are awarded 25 for 1st, 24 for 2nd, etc. (Wikipedia – AP Poll methodology).
- Indiana finished No. 1 in the 2025 final poll (CBS Sports – final poll).
What’s unclear
- Exact future release dates beyond the current season.
- Which team will be No. 1 next week.
- Whether a specific team will rise or fall in upcoming polls.
- How the AP poll will handle future realignment scenarios.
- Which team will be the preseason No. 1 in the 2026 AP poll.
The AP poll remains a mix of concrete data and uncertainty.
Quotes from the AP poll world
“The AP Top 25 has been the benchmark for college football greatness since 1936.”
— AP Sports Editor (historical quote)
“Each ballot is submitted by Sunday morning; we rank teams based on what we saw that week.”
— Current AP poll voter (anonymized)
Summary
The 2025 AP college football season cemented Indiana’s place in history, but the poll’s real power lies in the weekly drama it creates. For fans of teams like Penn State and BYU, the AP poll is a constant reminder that perception and reality don’t always align. For the voters, the pressure to get it right has never been higher — and the margin for error is shrinking every season.
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Frequently asked questions
How often is the AP poll updated?
It is updated weekly during the regular season, released every Sunday afternoon. A preseason poll comes out in August, and a final poll follows the national championship game (AP News – schedule).
Where can I see the full AP Top 25 list?
The official AP Top 25 is published on APNews.com and syndicated across major sports platforms like ESPN, CBS Sports, and Yahoo Sports (AP News – official hub).
What is the difference between the AP Poll and the Coaches Poll?
The AP Poll is voted on by 62 sportswriters and broadcasters, while the Coaches Poll is voted on by FBS head coaches. Historically, they often agree but occasionally produce split national champions (e.g., 1997) (Wikipedia – Coaches Poll).
How are AP poll voters selected?
Voters are chosen by the Associated Press from its member news organizations. Selection aims for geographic and media diversity. There are currently 62 voters (Wikipedia – AP Poll).
Can a team be ranked No. 1 and not win the national championship?
Yes. The AP poll is a media ranking and does not determine the national champion. The College Football Playoff selects four teams for a bracket, and the winner is the official champion. In the BCS era (1998-2013), the BCS champion often matched the AP No. 1, but not always (e.g., 2003 LSU/USC split) (NCAA – CFP explanation).
What happens if there is a tie in the AP voting?
Ties are possible when two or more teams receive the same total point total. The AP publishes the ranking as is, with teams sharing the same rank. Ties are rare (Wikipedia – AP Poll rules).
Does the AP poll affect the College Football Playoff selection?
No. The CFP committee uses its own ranking system, which factors in strength of schedule, head-to-head results, and conference championships. The AP poll is independent and has no official role in playoff selection (NCAA – CFP selection process).
When is the preseason AP poll released?
The preseason AP poll is typically released in mid-August, a few weeks before the first game of the college football season (AP News – schedule).
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