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USC rallied from a 21-7 deficit to defeat Iowa 26-21 in steady rain, showcasing the toughness that has eluded Lincoln Riley during his USC tenure.

The Trojans’ gutsy win keeps them alive in the College Football Playoff race with Oregon and UCLA up next.

Riley and USC proved they are capable of winning critical games in the Big Ten.

They were battered, they were bruised, they were soaking wet and covered in stereotypes.

They’re not tough enough. They’re not resilient enough. They’re not Big Ten-enough.

Late in the second quarter Saturday afternoon at the Coliseum, a USC football team fighting for a playoff berth was crumbling beneath the weight of its worst national perception.

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