It's very rare that everyone agrees on a No. 1 team, so much less hope lies in agreeing on a No. 2 team as well. This year may be no exception as the first installment of the BCS has a huge controversy brewing in regards to Miami.

Here again, this is only proof that the BCS is doing it's job. The AP and coaches polls have Miami ranked No. 1, but it's based on personal opinions (probably valid, but still subjective). I'm sorry, but this is not your grandfather's brand of ranking football team's anymore. Now, a team must EARN their position every week. Unfortunately, the AP and coaches polls do not force a team to "earn" anything. All you have to do is attain a high preseason rank, win games and hope the teams above you lose. My knowledge of these polls is that it takes a stick of dynamite to blast a team out of the Top 5 unless they lose. It does happen, but it's rare.

The computers, on the other hand, are more adaptable and flexible, giving any team an opportunity to make huge gains by simply performing well against quality opposition. Changing positions among Top 5 teams is very common among computer polls at this stage of the season, as well it should be, since teams are still "positioning" themselves.

As of this writing, the computers have the Hurricanes ranked any where from No. 3 to No. 21, both of those extremes will be thrown out. The remaining 9, 7, 6, 14, and 14, coupled with the No. 1 from the AP and coaches, added to the No. 105 strength of schedule, will place Miami in the neighborhood of No. 6, which is exactly where they should be after great performances over mostly weak opposition. This is the new brand of ranking teams that we have today, and I believe, my friends, it's a much better brand than we've had for the last 50 years.

Critics will say this proves the BCS is a farce and the computer polls should be dumped. But the truth is, it only shows that a team must earn the right to be called a champion. Remember, the first BCS poll is only a reflection of who would participate in the national title game if it were held today. Ask yourself this question, do you really believe that if the season ended today, Miami would deserve the right to play in the Rose Bowl over Oklahoma, UCLA or Nebraska -- all of whom are undefeated playing a much harder schedule? The BCS was created to ensure this type of scenario will be handled in an appropriate, non biased manner.

But, before you begin to think I'm bashing Miami, I should also be very clear that the computers will respond to Miami's efforts very quickly as the season progresses, should the Hurricanes continue to win. Miami's strength of schedule will improve dramatically as November unfolds with Boston College, Syracuse, Virginia Tech and Washington upcoming. If Miami wins those games, I can assure you, the Hurricanes will be making substantial gains in the computers.

Another point that needs to be emphasized is that a tremendous amount of change can occur very quickly in the alignment of the BCS poll from week to week, as it is reflective of a current week's performances from all 117 Division I-A teams. It took an Auburn upset of Florida and Stanford's upset of Oregon to create a "shakeup" in the AP and coaches polls, but something as simple as a win over a quality opponent can change the landscape of all the computer polls, and consequently, the overall BCS poll.

For instance, UCLA's win over highly ranked Washington allowed the Bruins to jump from No. 16 to No. 6 in my poll. A much deserved leap, but a 10-point gain is something you rarely, if ever, see in the AP or coaches polls. Computer formulas are designed to make quick adjustments, and they respond well to great performances. That's the beauty of using them as a balance to the AP and coaches polls. Overall in the computers, that win propelled UCLA to the No. 1 rank in several polls. Miami's position at this point in the season means nothing because it could change dramatically in just one week. There is a lot of football yet to be played.

BCS pollster Richard Billingsley is a college football historian, and author. His complete rankings are available at www.CFRC.com.