How often does AP Top 25 come out?

When to Expect the AP Top 25 Rankings

College basketball fans mark their calendars every season for one of the most anticipated moments in the sport: the release of the AP Top 25 rankings. These weekly polls, which reflect the opinions of a national panel of sportswriters and broadcasters, help shape the narrative of the season and influence everything from team momentum to NCAA Tournament seeding.

For the women’s game, the AP Top 25 is unveiled every Monday at 12:00 p.m. ET, followed by the men’s poll just one hour later at 1:00 p.m. ET. This schedule runs consistently from early November through mid-March, covering the heart of the regular season and extending into conference tournament time. The rankings typically pause briefly after conference tournaments conclude, but return with a final post-NCAA Tournament edition in April.

The timing makes sense—Monday afternoons offer a natural pause after a packed weekend of games, allowing voters to assess performances before setting the new order. For teams on the bubble or climbing the charts, these releases can spark celebration or urgency. A jump of just a few spots can boost a program’s national profile, while a drop can ignite tough questions.

Since its inception, the AP poll has remained a trusted barometer of success in college basketball. Whether you're following a powerhouse or a rising mid-major, checking the rankings has become a weekly ritual for fans. So if you're waiting to see where your team landed, mark your calendar: every Monday during the season, the answers arrive just in time for the week ahead.