Brief

USC defeats Washington 25-21 as fans briefly quiet calls to fire Lincoln Riley

The Trojans' late surge secured a win that temporarily stilled chants to fire coach Lincoln Riley.

By Felo News Desk · Published Tue, 06 Oct 2026 20:15:37 GMT

USC held off Washington 25-21 on Saturday night at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, a win that momentarily quieted fans chanting “Fire Lincoln!” after a turbulent start to the season, according to the New York Post.

What happened

The Trojans, 5-1 overall and 2-1 in the Big Ten, trailed 14-10 at halftime. In the third quarter they took a 22-21 lead with back‑to‑back touchdowns—a 10‑yard catch by Tanook Hines and a 48‑yard scoop‑and‑score by Jahkeem Stewart—followed by a defensive tackle’s 295‑pound run into the end zone after linebacker Elijah Newby forced a fumble. A 39‑yard field goal by Caden Chittenden early in the fourth quarter extended the lead to 25-21. Washington’s final drive ended when defensive end Kameryn Crawford sacked quarterback Demond Williams Jr. for a six‑yard loss on fourth down, sealing the victory.

What the reports add

The Post noted that the crowd’s boos and chants intensified after a controversial Washington touchdown where two defenders failed to push the receiver out of bounds. It also highlighted a rare moment when USC’s defensive coordinator called the game from the press box for the first time this season, and a series of early‑game miscues—including a punt muff and two illegal‑formation penalties—that left USC trailing at the half.

What was said

The article quoted no direct statements but described the “lengthy rebuttal” from coach Lincoln Riley after the early‑quarter chants, noting his defense eventually produced “several huge plays.”

How it came about

The win followed a recent loss to Oregon that had intensified scrutiny of Riley’s tenure. Earlier this week, former coach Urban Meyer called USC football an “injured animal,” blaming Riley’s record against ranked teams for the program’s struggles. The victory against Washington offers a brief reprieve for Riley amid ongoing fan pressure.

Key facts

USC beat Washington 25-21 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. (nypost.com)
The win gave USC a 5-1 overall record and 2-1 Big Ten record. (nypost.com)
Fans chanted “Fire Lincoln!” during the game, but the chant faded after the victory. (nypost.com)
Key late scores came from Tanook Hines, Jahkeem Stewart and a defensive tackle after a forced fumble. (nypost.com)
Washington’s final drive ended with a sack by Kameryn Crawford on fourth down. (nypost.com)