When Do NCAA Basketball Rankings Come Out?

By Sarah Miller · September 19, 2037

NCAA basketball rankings are released weekly during the college basketball season, typically on Mondays starting in mid-February. The most recognized polls — the AP Top 25 and the USA Today Coaches Poll — come out every Monday, while the NCAA's official NET Rankings are updated daily from late November through March. Understanding when and how these rankings are published is essential for fans, teams, and analysts tracking team performance and tournament prospects.

Understanding NCAA Basketball Ranking Systems

The NCAA basketball landscape features multiple ranking systems that serve different purposes. While all aim to evaluate team strength, they differ in methodology, release frequency, and influence on postseason selection.

Major College Basketball Ranking Types

AP Top 25 Poll: A media-voted ranking of the top 25 teams.
USA Today Coaches Poll: Voted by head coaches at Division I programs.
NCAA NET Rankings: The official metric used by the NCAA Selection Committee for tournament seeding.
KenPom Ratings: An advanced analytics model based on efficiency metrics.
ESPN BPI (Basketball Power Index): A predictive model developed by ESPN.

When Are NCAA Basketball Rankings Released?

Fans can expect regular updates throughout the season. Here’s a detailed breakdown of release schedules for major rankings:

AP Top 25 Poll Release Schedule

The Associated Press (AP) releases its Top 25 poll every Monday during the season, excluding weeks with major holidays. The first poll usually appears in November, but the most critical rankings come after February 1st, as they influence NCAA Tournament selections.

USA Today Coaches Poll Schedule

Similar to the AP Poll, the Coaches Poll is released every Monday during the season. However, it pauses during the week of the NCAA Tournament due to coaching staff involvement in postseason play.

NCAA NET Rankings Updates

The NCAA Evaluation Tool (NET) rankings are updated daily beginning in late November and continue through Selection Sunday in March. These rankings are crucial because they form the foundation for the NCAA Tournament bracket decisions.

Ranking System	Release Day	Frequency	First Release (2024–25 Season)	Published By
AP Top 25 Poll	Monday	Weekly	November 4, 2024	Associated Press
USA Today Coaches Poll	Monday	Weekly	November 11, 2024	USA Today Sports
NCAA NET Rankings	Daily	Daily	November 25, 2024	NCAA
KenPom Ratings	Daily	Daily	November 1, 2024	Kenny Pomeroy
ESPN BPI	Tuesday	Weekly	November 5, 2024	ESPN Analytics

Table data source:1, 2, 3

The table highlights key differences in update frequency and timing across systems. The daily availability of NET and KenPom rankings offers real-time insights into team performance, while weekly polls like the AP and Coaches Poll provide broader consensus views. Notably, the AP Poll starts earlier than most, giving fans an early snapshot of preseason expectations.

How Rankings Influence the NCAA Tournament

The final rankings, especially the NCAA NET, play a decisive role in determining which teams earn bids to the NCAA Tournament and how they are seeded.

Key Factors Considered by the Selection Committee

Team’s NET ranking and quadrant win-loss record
Strength of schedule (SOS)
Quality wins and bad losses
Performance in the last 10–12 games
Conference tournament results

The last AP Poll of the regular season, released the Monday before Selection Sunday, often reflects which teams are “on the bubble” for tournament inclusion. Meanwhile, the NET rankings are continuously monitored and heavily weighted in bracket construction.

Historical Trends in Ranking Accuracy

Over the past decade, the NET ranking system has proven more predictive of tournament success than traditional polls. Since its introduction in 2018, the top 10 NET teams have advanced past the First Four round at a rate exceeding 90%, compared to about 78% for top 10 AP-ranked teams.

Additionally, teams ranked in the top 25 of both the AP Poll and NET Rankings by mid-February have made the NCAA Tournament at a rate of over 95% since 2020.

Frequently Asked Questions About NCAA Basketball Rankings

When do the AP Top 25 rankings come out each week?

The AP Top 25 rankings are released every Monday during the college basketball season, typically around 2:00 PM Eastern Time. The poll is published on AP.org and widely shared across sports networks.

What time are the NCAA NET rankings updated?

The NCAA NET rankings are updated daily around 6:00 PM Eastern Time on the official NCAA website. Updates begin in late November and continue through Selection Sunday in March.

Are Coaches Poll rankings released on the same day as AP Poll?

Yes, the USA Today Coaches Poll is also released on Mondays, usually a few hours after the AP Poll. However, it does not publish during the week of the NCAA Tournament due to coaching commitments.

Which ranking matters most for March Madness?

The NCAA NET Rankings matter most for March Madness, as they are the primary tool used by the NCAA Selection Committee to evaluate teams and seed the tournament bracket.

Do preseason rankings affect tournament selection?

No, preseason rankings do not directly impact tournament selection. However, strong preseason rankings can influence early-season scheduling and media perception, indirectly shaping a team’s path to qualification.