The Coaches' Poll began as a top 20 list in 1950 and was published by United Press International (UPI).  In 1990 the poll began listing the top 25 teams.

This poll was published by the UPI until 1991 when USA Today and CNN took it over.  ESPN replaced CNN in 1997 as the co-sponsor.  After the controversial results in the BCS in 2004, ESPN left and the poll is currently run by USA Today only.

Since the inception of the BCS, the Coaches' Poll must vote the number one team in the BCS poll as number one also.  This was supposed to eliminate the possibility of split national titles until the before mentioned 2004 controversy.  The winner of the Coaches' Poll is awarded the Waterford Crystal National Championship Coaches' Trophy.