The release of the 2021 AP Top 25 preseason college football poll is right around the corner. Once again, college athletics’ most famous – and oldest – ranking will be sponsored by Regions Bank.
Abbas Merchant, Regions Chief Marketing Officer, noted that Regions has sponsored major college athletics for more than 25 years.
“As the Official Bank of the Southeastern Conference, Regions and our associates know firsthand the resilience of our communities and the students, student-athletes and fans that are a part of them,” Merchant said. “We’ve all been reminded this past year of the importance of community, tradition and being together and we’re proud to continue our support by bringing the AP Top 25 and more to fans this season.”
Now in its 85th year, the AP Top 25 is as much a part of the pageantry of college football as tailgating, live mascots, tumbling cheerleaders and can’t-miss rivalries.
An expert panel of 60 sports writers and broadcasters from AP-affiliated media outlets around the country decide the AP Top 25, an ongoing tradition since 1936, and name the preseason All-America players for each position to first and second teams. The first AP All-America team was selected in 1925, a decade before the initial Heisman Trophy was awarded.
“The AP Top 25 Poll has long been a part of both college football history and the AP brand,” said Tom Januszewski, AP’s vice president of global business development. “We are excited to team up again with Regions Bank and appreciate their support of the AP college football poll.”
Regions first sponsored the AP Top 25 in 2019. The new agreement includes sponsorship of:
- The preseason AP All-American team
- The weekly regular-season AP Top 25 rankings
- The final AP Top 25 poll, following the conclusion of the College Football Playoff National Championship Game
- The weekly Top 25 podcast hosted by AP College Football writer Ralph Russo
- And postseason honors, including the AP All-American Team, Coach of the Year and Player of the Year.
The sponsorship was secured in collaboration with Undertone, the leader in data-driven, intelligent high impact campaigns for the world’s most prominent brands. Undertone will provide additional distribution of the branded sponsorship through its engaging, high-impact digital ad formats across hundreds of quality publisher sites and apps.
“We are honored to continue our partnership with Regions Bank and collaborate again for the second sponsorship of AP’s Top 25 football poll,” said Dan Aks, president of Undertone. “We’re very excited to be a part of the poll’s 85th year.”