USC’s football team is #2 in the nation, according to the newly released New York Times computer ratings, which is one of the seven computer ratings used to determine who plays in the national championship game at the end of the season. (Notre Dame, at 4-0, is #1.) Unlike the subjective AP and Coaches polls, which have us ranked #18 and #20 respectively, the Times formula isn’t tainted by reputations and preseason expectations. It simply judges a team on what it’s done so far. And the Trojans have done pretty darn well, winning three games against top-notch opponents and losing a close road game to a good Kansas State team. Looks like the computer finds that more impressive than Texas’s four wins over the likes of North Texas and Tulane, and Miami’s thrashing of folks like Florida A&M (and, next week, UConn). Hurrah! Fight on… and bring on Washington State!