Overview
- USC’s season opener against San Jose State produced widely circulated images of empty sections at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum despite the school reporting 51,144 in attendance and then issuing a statement about the turnout.
- Journalists and columnists raised questions about the optics after the game, with several outlets citing the crowd as evidence of lagging fan engagement at a program with high expectations.
- USC played the game under an extreme heat advisory and media reports noted field temperatures near 94°F as a key explanation for lower visible attendance.
- On Monday, Texas Tech coach Joey McGuire referenced USC and Lincoln Riley while saying Texas Tech will play in front of roughly 60,000 fans in Lubbock and that his supporters ‘are going to show up’ regardless of weather.
- The episode has given rival coaches and commentators a talking point and could increase scrutiny of USC’s home crowds as the Trojans prepare for early-season matchups while Texas Tech heads into Week 1 at Galaxy Stadium.