Summer School Q&A: Who makes the rankings? And why do they matter?

Q: Who decides how teams are ranked? And why does it matter?

A: There’s a reason rankings are also called polls: Associations of coaches, sports journalists, and other professionals engaged with the sport vote (usually weekly) on teams’ positions based on their ongoing performances. Each week, the publishing group collects and combines members’ individual rankings to create the final numbered list.

• The most authoritative rankings for football and basketball, the AP polls, are compiled from the weekly personal Top-25 lists of over 60 Associated Press–selected journalists. Other sports employ other polls, like the United Soccer Coaches rankings for college footy.

• Many polls also include a “receiving votes” category, which indicates that some voters thought a squad deserved Top-25 status — just not enough of them for the team to officially make the list. Shoutout to the one journalist who believes in Colorado football.

• Ultimately, a team’s ranking is much more than a number — it’s a reflection of the squad’s past achievements and a predictor of future performances. Moving up the poll bumps up media and fan attention, plus boosts a team’s confidence and overall vibes.