Rankings
NCAA rankings
The dated AP Top 25 snapshot also published on NCAA.com. College Football Playoff committee rankings have not yet been released this season.
AP Top 25 · Week 5
The ranking
SEC · 62 first-place votes
SEC · 6 first-place votes
Independent
ACC · 1 first-place votes
Big Ten
Big Ten · 1 first-place votes
SEC
SEC
SEC
Not covered here yet
SEC
Not covered here yet
Big 12
Big Ten
Big Ten
Not covered here yet
SEC
Big Ten
Big 12
Not covered here yet
Not covered here yet
Pac-12
Not covered here yet
Not covered here yet
Not covered here yet
About these rankings
Which poll is shown here?
NCAA.com publishes the Associated Press Top 25 during the regular season. This is the same media poll shown on our AP page, including its vote points. It is not a separate NCAA selection committee ranking.
The College Football Playoff committee publishes its own rankings later in the season. Those rankings will have a different order and should be labeled with their own release date when available.
FAQ
Ranking questions
What is the AP poll?
The AP poll is a ranking produced by a panel of media voters, published weekly through the season. It reflects voter opinion rather than a formula, so ballots differ and rankings can move on the strength of a single result.
How do the AP poll and NCAA rankings differ?
NCAA.com currently publishes the AP Top 25, which is the same media poll displayed on our AP page. The separate College Football Playoff committee rankings are released later in the season.
How often do rankings update?
Rankings follow a weekly cycle during the season, typically published after each Saturday slate is complete, with a preseason edition before any games are played.
Why can a team with a better record be ranked lower?
Strength of schedule is a large part of the judgement. A team with one loss against difficult opponents is frequently ranked above an unbeaten team that has played a weaker slate.
Do rankings decide the postseason?
Rankings shape the conversation and inform selection, but bowl and playoff placement comes from the official selection process and conference tie-ins rather than directly from a poll.