Psst: @FearlessF , Bama's AP Poll appearance streak is in serious jeopardy.
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Nebraska is far-and-away the all-time leader in AP Poll appearance streaks with a string of 348 consecutive weeks in the AP Poll from 1981-2002.
It was thisclose to being even longer. The Cornhuskers started the 1981 season at #6 and dropped to #7 before playing a game. Then they lost at Iowa by a FG and dropped to #17. A home win over FSU got them up to #15 but then they lost at home to Penn State by 6 and failed to appear in the AP Polls released on September 28 and October 5 but by October 12 they were back at #19 after blowout wins over Auburn and Colorado.
The thing is that Nebraska's two early losses weren't bad in retrospect. Iowa finished 8-4, BigTen Champions, and #18. Penn State finished 10-2 and #3 and, for their part, Nebraska finished 9-3 and #11 (the third loss that season was to NC Clemson in the Orange Bowl). Nebraska was ranked in every poll from 1978-1980, only missed one in 1977, and was ranked in every poll from 1970-1976. As impressive as Nebraska's streak is, it was VERY close to being 11 years longer.
Alabama's current streak is 280 consecutive appearances starting with being #24 in the 2008 preseason poll. This is the longest active streak and the second longest of all-time trailing only the Nebraska streak discussed above.
The second longest active streak and 10th longest of all-time is Georgia with 133 consecutive AP Poll appearances starting with being #15 in the 2017 preseason poll.
The third longest active streak and 42nd longest of all-time is Ohio State with 81 consecutive AP Poll appearances starting with being #6 in the September 27, 2020 AP Poll. Ohio State missed the September 13 and September 20, 2020 AP Polls only due to being ineligible due to the B1G's COVID pause. Ohio State has appeared in all 81 polls since then (never lower than #11) and immediately prior to that Ohio State appeared in 132 consecutive AP Polls from 2012-2020. Ie, but for the COVID Pause, Ohio State's current streak would be 215 (132+2+81) which would be the #2 active streak and the third longest of all time.
Oregon and Penn State are tied for the fourth longest active streak with 49 consecutive appearances dating to the September 11, 2022 AP Poll.
Notre Dame has the sixth longest active streak with 41 consecutive appearances dating to the November 6, 2022 AP Poll.
Texas has the seventh longest active streak with 39 consecutive appearances dating to the November 20, 2022 AP Poll.
Ole Miss has the eighth longest active streak with 35 consecutive appearances dating to the 2023 preseason AP Poll.
Tennessee has the ninth longest active streak with 21 consecutive appearances dating to the December 3, 2020 AP Poll.
Clemson has the tenth longest active streak with 20 consecutive appearances dating to the 2023 Final AP Poll.
Miami, FL has the 11th longest active streak with 19 consecutive appearances dating to the 2024 preseason AP Poll.
Indiana has the 12th longest active streak with 14 consecutive appearances dating to the September 29, 2024 AP Poll.
SMU has the 13th longest active streak with 13 consecutive appearances dating to the October 6, 2024 AP Poll.
South Carolina has the 14th longest active streak with eight consecutive appearances dating to the November 10, 2024 AP Poll.
Arizona State, Illinois, and Iowa State are tied for the 15th longest active streak with seven consecutive appearances dating to the November 17, 2024 AP Poll.
No other streaks began prior to 2025.
