Southern California escaped with a 25-21 win over Washington on Saturday, but the victory did little to quiet the unrest around Lincoln Riley.

The Trojans sealed the win with Jahkeem Stewart's 48-yard fumble return for a touchdown, the game's defining play.

Sections of the home crowd chanted for Riley's firing during the game. The coach's enormous contract means dismissing him would cost roughly $100 to $120 million, according to analyst Joel Klatt.

USC's season has been a grind. The Trojans have talent but keep finding ways to make games harder than they should be.

Washington will rue the turnovers. The Huskies outgained USC for stretches but gave the ball away at the worst moments.

Riley said after the game that his team showed toughness. His critics say toughness is not the problem; consistency is.

USC's recruiting class remains among the nation's best despite the on-field turmoil. Riley is in his fifth season in Los Angeles after arriving from Oklahoma in 2021.

Sources: espn.com, si.com, latimes.com.