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The "Fire Lincoln" chants that echoed through the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum began during the second quarter of USC's week 5 victory over Washington.
By the third quarter, the volume increased as the Trojans trailed by 11 points, the offense continued to struggle, and the fan base grew increasingly frustrated with head coach Lincoln Riley.
It was another uninspiring performance, but USC managed to rally and improve to 5-1.
The win did nothing to alter the narrative surrounding Riley or the program, which remains under heavy scrutiny.
Whether the team acknowledges it or not, they are under a microscope.
More so now than at any other point in Riley's tenure.
Everything is magnified due to the lack of results over his four and a half years.
Southern Cal has numerous areas to improve across all three phases of the game.
However, the Trojans did secure a win over the Huskies for the first time in a decade.
A game they would have lost in the past.
Can USC build momentum in the second half of the season as they travel to the East Coast to face Penn State on Saturday, Oct. 10? Beating Penn State won't silence the naysayers about the program or those calling for Riley's job.
But stacking wins is the only way to quiet some of the noise and begin steering the program in a positive direction again.
Tough Road Environment in Happy Valley
Since joining the Big Ten in 2024, USC has not performed well outside of the Coliseum.
Even when they traveled to Pasadena to face UCLA in their inaugural Big Ten season, they struggled significantly.
The Trojans sleepwalked through the first half in a loss to Illinois last September.
And against a winless Rutgers team in week 3 this season, USC escaped with a 42-35 win.
It hasn't mattered the situation or opponent.
It's another one of those recurring problems under Riley and why they are underdogs to an unranked opponent.
Penn State has fallen apart over the past two weeks, dropping games to Wisconsin and Northwestern, where they were blown out 34-13 and allowed 413 rushing yards.
Year one under Matt Campbell in Happy Valley hasn't unfolded as many expected.
But what has happened to the Nittany Lions recently is irrelevant.
USC could very well see a different team on Saturday, if they allow them to.
Mental mistakes have plagued the Trojans.
But that's not new.
Penalties continue to be an issue, especially in critical moments.
That and the rocking crowd USC will face on Saturday night for Penn State's annual White Out game.
A hostile environment of 108,000 people that will undoubtedly make life difficult for quarterback Jayden Maiava, who has been at the forefront of the team's struggles on the road.
If the Trojans can eliminate those mistakes, find a way to take the crowd out of the game and if Maiava can revert to the player he was at the beginning of the year, Riley's squad has an opportunity to move to 6-1 heading into their first bye week and still have everything in front of them.
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Kendell Hollowell, a Southern California native, has been covering collegiate athletics since 2020 via radio and digital journalism.
His experience includes covering programs such as the USC Trojans, Vanderbilt Commodores and Alabama Crimson Tide.
Kendell also works in TV production for the NFL Network.
Prior to working in sports journalism, Kendell was a collegiate athlete on the University of Wyoming and Adams State football team.
He is committed to bringing in-depth insight and analysis for USC athletics.
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