When Do College Football Rankings Come Out?

Starting at the beginning of every season, new college football rankings drop weekly and have a pronounced effect on how teams are perceived in the football betting markets.

That means savvy bettors can make a lot of money by studying the betting relationship between poll rankings and college football ATS records. 

For the college football elite, the top of the rankings is the ultimate goal. With a lot of winning and a little luck, the playoff committee will reward your team with a trip to the 12-team College Football Playoff. 

For most other teams – including pretty much every G6 program – any spot in the top 25 is one of the biggest rewards available to the sport’s middle class. A national championship might be out of reach, so a public attaboy in the polls is about the best reward to be found. (Before conference championship week, anyway.)

So for those wondering about the AP Poll rankings, or even the College Football Playoff rankings, here’s a quick download on everything you need to know. 

When Does the First AP Poll Come Out?

The first college football AP Poll is typically released sometime in the middle of August. In 2025, the preseason poll dropped on Aug. 11. 

When Do College Football Rankings Come Out?

Once the season starts, the AP Poll generally releases its newest college football rankings every Sunday, often early in the afternoon for those on Eastern Standard Time. 

When Do the CFP Rankings Come Out?

The first edition of the all-important College Football Playoff Rankings are typically released around Nov. 1.