The Associated Press releases its Top 25 football rankings every Sunday at 2:00 PM Eastern Time during the regular season. The final post‑bowl poll appears in January after the championship game.
Weekly release schedule
From the first week of play in late August through the end of the regular season in early December, the AP Top 25 drops on Sunday afternoons. The 2:00 PM ET time slot is the result of a 24‑hour cycle that starts after Saturday night games finish and ends with the poll being distributed to the media.
How voters submit ballots
AP voters—sports writers and broadcasters from across the country—submit their ballots online by Sunday morning. The deadline is usually around 10:00‑11:00 AM ET. After the ballots close, AP staff tabulate points: 25 for a first‑place vote, 24 for second, down to 1 for 25th.
Preseason and early‑season quirks
The preseason poll is released in mid‑August before any regular‑season games. In the first two weeks of play, if Saturday’s slate runs late into the night or includes Monday‑night games, the AP may shift the release to Tuesday afternoon to give voters enough time to review all results.
Conference championship week adjustments
Late‑season conference championships often take place on Friday nights or Saturday afternoons. The AP final regular‑season poll follows these games, sometimes with a slightly earlier release to align with bowl‑selection timelines.
Post‑bowl final poll
After the College Football Playoff National Championship, the AP issues its final poll in January. This release occurs within 24‑48 hours of the championship game, providing the last media ranking of the season.
Why the timing matters
Fans, coaches, and broadcasters use the Sunday release to gauge national perception, plan media coverage, and discuss potential playoff implications. The 2:00 PM ET slot keeps the ranking consistent and predictable for everyone involved.