As the 2025 college football season kicks off, AP is giving fans a new way to take part in one of the sport’s most talked-about traditions.
Deputy Director of Digital News Howie Rumberg explains how the newly launched AP Top 25 College Football Fan Poll complements the long-running AP Top 25 and offers fans a more interactive role in the weekly rankings conversation.
What is the AP Top 25 Fan Poll, and how is it different from the official AP Top 25?
For as long as there has been an AP poll – since 1936 – fans and experts have debated the merits of the rankings. Now, AP is giving everyone who loves college football a chance to vote for their weekly Top 25 in a fan poll.
After voting, fans can share their picks with friends and college football rivals to enhance the conversation around who is No. 1 – or No. 25. Voters can also see how their rankings compare to other participants.
The fan poll differs from the official AP Top 25 in that it’s designed as a fun way for college football fanatics to find a community at AP for discussion. The official rankings, voted on by a panel of journalists, have real impact on programs.
Why should fans participate, and what impact will their votes have?
Fans should want to vote because it gives them another opportunity to share their college football opinions. It’s an exciting way for people to come together, discuss the season and show their passion and pride for their alma maters.
There’s also a competitive element: each fan’s ballot is scored based on how closely it matches the overall fan rankings, and a public leaderboard shows how voters stack up each week.
How does the AP’s tradition of ranking teams play into this new fan poll?
Almost every conversation about major college football includes mentions of the AP rankings. It is the way fans – both rabid and casual – keep track of the overall success of their teams, and it helps fuel the College Football Playoff debate. The rankings help set the tone for national conversation, so the fan poll is a natural extension of that.
Vote in the AP Top 25 College Football Fan Poll here.
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