The AP Top 25 preseason poll drops Monday, Aug. 11. First launched in 1936, the poll will be joined by a live blog with analysis, a Q&A, and ways for you to join the conversation as college football season kicks off.
The AP Top 25 college football poll preseason rankings will be released today at noon ET.
A tradition since 1936, no organization has been ranking teams and naming a major college football national champion longer than the AP — and now you can follow live updates before and after the poll drops.
See where your team ranks and which teams and players to watch ahead of the 2025 season.
Here’s what to know:
- Who decides the rankings? The Top 25 voters are over 60 journalists covering college football at AP-member news organizations. They’re urged to base their votes on head-to-head results, not reputation, preseason speculation or regional bias.
- Which teams finished on top last season? Ohio State (14-2), after beating Notre Dame for its first national championship since 2014, secured the No. 1 spot in last season’s final Top 25 poll. The Irish (14-2) finished No. 2 for their highest end-of-season ranking since 1993. Oregon (13-1) lost to Ohio State in the Rose Bowl quarterfinal and finished No. 3.
- When does the 2025 season start? The wait is almost over — opening weekend begins Saturday, Aug. 23.
▶ Show your appreciation for one of college football’s longest-running traditions. Donate to AP.
