Unlike most sports, college football's governing body, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), does not bestow a National Championship title for Division I-A football.
That title is primarily bestowed by different polling agencies.
About halfway through the season the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) standings are released.
The heavy end of the season politicking for ballot position lead the AP to believe that the BCS undermined the independence and integrity of the poll and could hurt the AP's reputation.
[1] [2] [3] The Bowl Championship Series (BCS) determined the two teams that competed in the BCS National Championship Game, the 2005 Orange Bowl.