In 1978, USC and Alabama 'split' a national title. USC won the UPI coaches title, Alabama was voted number one by the AP writers. The two teams played each other earlier in the year, AT ALABAMA, and USC won 24-14, and was ahead 24-0 in the 4th quarter. Both teams finished up with the same overall record, 12-1, I believe. They played each other(!!!) and USC won, but they had to split the title??!!!! Hell, AP owed us one.
The Coaches Poll is the BCS. They sold out when they agreed to vote for the BCS Champion as #1, Maybe that's right or maybe it isn't but it doesn't change the fact that the AP, which is not part of the upstart BCS, has been awarding national championships far longer than anyone else.
It's still the most prestigious in my opinion until the BCS finally settles on a formula and sticks with it for more than a few monthts.