Trojans become an idle threat in BCS

A 56-0 shutout of Washington sent USC downward. A decisive victory over Stanford kept the Trojans stagnant.

But an open date apparently helped USC do what those feats could not:

Move up in the Bowl Championship Series standings.

With Texas Tech losing to Oklahoma on Saturday, the Trojans on Sunday jumped one spot to No. 5.

“Can we not play this week too and keep climbing?” Coach Pete Carroll said, chuckling, after a team meeting Sunday night. “Maybe that’s the way it should go. We really got better. We had a great bye week.”

USC also moved up to fifth in the Associated Press media poll and the coaches’ and Harris Interactive polls.

The Trojans, however, are eighth in the computer component of the BCS formula, a ranking that doesn’t figure to improve with games remaining against Notre Dame and UCLA.

USC (9-1) trails Alabama (11-0), Texas (10-1), Oklahoma (10-1) and Florida (10-1) in the race for a berth in the BCS title game. “We still need a lot of people to lose,” senior defensive tackle Fili Moala said.

USC remains tied with Oregon State for the Pacific 10 Conference lead, but the Beavers would gain the Rose Bowl berth with a victory over Oregon at Corvallis on Saturday.

Oregon State, of course, handed USC its only defeat.

“Playing at home in their last game, they’ve got to be really knowing that they can get this done,” Carroll said. “Maybe the only solace is a really good team got us. A much better team than people thought.”

Quick kicks

Carroll said he was happy, on a personal level, that Syracuse Coach Greg Robinson, a longtime friend and colleague, was able to defeat Notre Dame on Saturday. Robinson last week was fired effective at the end of the season. Carroll plans to speak with him this week.

“To see him get a big win like that, under the circumstances, I know how emotional it was and what a great accomplishment it was for him,” Carroll said.

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gary.klein@latimes.com

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Up next

USC (9-1) vs. Notre Dame (6-5)

Saturday at the Coliseum,

5 p.m., Channel 7