Low attendance at USC season opener prompts criticism of Lincoln Riley

USC opened its home football season against San Jose State with a notable number of empty seats at the Coliseum. While the team secured a victory in the game, the sparse turnout drew public criticism from media figures regarding the current state of the program. Radio host Clay Travis attributed the attendance figures to a lack of fan belief in head coach Lincoln Riley. ESPN analyst Paul Finebaum questioned the university's official response to the situation and suggested the crowd size appeared significantly lower than the reported 51,000 attendees. In a statement to USA Today, the university acknowledged the attendance levels and cited various factors for the turnout while expressing expectations for a more robust atmosphere throughout the remainder of the season. USC is scheduled to play Fresno State on September 4.

• 11:14 AMYahoo Sports — “Fans Don’t Believe in Lincoln Riley”: Clay Travis Discusses Exact Reasons Why USC’s Opener Saw Sparse Crowd