AP Poll

AP Poll is a weekly ranking system produced by the Associated Press that aggregates ballots from sportswriters and broadcasters to rate top teams in American college athletics. It began as a prominent selector in College football and later expanded to College basketball, serving as a media-based counterpart to polls and computer rankings used in postseason determinations. The poll’s lists, ballots, and point totals have been cited by athletic programs, broadcasters, and historians for decades.

History

The poll originated in 1936 when the Associated Press organized votes from sports journalists to create a national College football ranking; early voters included reporters covering teams like Notre Dame, Minnesota, and Alabama. During the mid-20th century, the poll intersected with selectors such as the Helms Athletic Foundation and the Bowl Championship Series era, influencing championships recognized by institutions like University of Southern California and University of Michigan. Expansion into College basketball rankings followed, with the poll becoming a staple alongside the National Collegiate Athletic Association tournament selection process and the March Madness media narrative. Notable historical interactions included clashes with the Associated Press Sports Editors and adaptations during wartime seasons affected by World War II and conference realignments like movements involving the Big Ten Conference and Southeastern Conference.

Methodology and voting process

Voters traditionally have been members of national and regional media organizations such as reporters from the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, and broadcasters from networks including ESPN and CBS Sports. Each voter submits a ranked ballot; teams receive points based on position (e.g., 25 points for a first-place vote in some formats), with totals determining the composite ranking alongside ties resolved by point totals and number of first-place votes. The panel composition has evolved with changes involving editors and representatives from outlets like Sports Illustrated, USA Today, and the Associated Press Sports Editors membership. Balloting schedules coordinate with seasons defined by conferences such as the Atlantic Coast Conference, Big 12 Conference, Pac-12 Conference, and postseason timing influenced by tournaments run by National Invitation Tournament organizers and the NCAA.

Rankings and release schedule

The poll is released on a weekly cadence during regular seasons for College football and College basketball, with timing coordinated with game days and television broadcast windows on platforms like ABC (American TV network), Fox Sports, and ESPN. In football, an initial preseason poll often appears before the College Football Playoff era’s selection show, followed by weekly updates through conference championship week and bowl season; in basketball, weekly rankings continue through conference tournaments into the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament field selection. Special editions occasionally appear: preseason, midseason, and final season polls that historically have been used by institutions such as Ohio State University, University of Kentucky, and Duke University for program publicity and recordkeeping. Release dates have sometimes shifted around holidays, Super Bowl weekend, and major events like the Final Four.

Influence and controversies

The poll has influenced national perceptions, recruiting narratives, and television ratings for matchups featured by networks like NBC Sports and CBS. Controversies have arisen when voters’ biases and regional allegiances—among writers from markets like Boston, Dallas, Los Angeles, and Chicago—appeared to favor teams from conferences such as the Big Ten Conference or Southeastern Conference. Debates flared during seasons with split national titles involving programs such as Miami and Nebraska, and during the BCS era when media polls competed with computer rankings such as those used by the Bowl Championship Series. Other disputes centered on ballot transparency, conflicts of interest involving voters employed by outlets affiliated with universities, and the poll’s role compared to selector systems like the Coaches Poll administered by Amway-sponsored organizations. Criticism intensified when midseason upheavals and upsets—e.g., high-profile losses by teams like Florida or Kansas—led to calls for methodological reforms.

Notable records and statistics

Longstanding statistical records include counts of first-place votes, weeks at No. 1, and total poll appearances. Programs with extended dominance in poll history include Alabama, Notre Dame, Ohio State, and UCLA for basketball stretches under coaches like John Wooden. Individual seasons have produced milestone ballots—such as undefeated campaigns by LSU in football or the 1972 UCLA streaks in basketball—reflected in final poll tallies. Voter demographics, distribution of first-place votes, and point differentials have been compiled by sports statisticians at outlets like Sports Reference and libraries preserving media archives. The poll’s archives remain a primary source for historians chronicling programs including Michigan, Texas, Kentucky, and North Carolina.

Category:College sports rankings