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EUGENE, Ore. — The last time he made it here, to the doorstep of the College Football Playoff , Lincoln Riley could only watch as USC ’s hopes slipped away with a single hamstring pull. Without its Heisman-winning quarterback healthy, USC fell painfully short , forced to wonder what could have been.

It would take Riley nearly three years — and plenty of ups and downs — to return to that same place, only this time to have the door slammed shut by No. 7 Oregon in a 42-27 loss that all but eliminated the Trojans’ hopes of a first-ever playoff invite.

USC will settle once again for a second-tier bowl game, while the Ducks are likely to be one of three Big Ten teams to host

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