USC issues statement regarding sparse attendance at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Aug 30, 2026, 11:00 PM
Last updated Aug 30, 2026

USC addressed the low attendance at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum during the team's home opener against the San Jose State Spartans on Saturday. Viral images of empty seats drew significant attention following the game, prompting the university to provide an official response to media inquiries. The school attributed the reduced turnout to factors including a noon kickoff, the non-conference opponent, and temperatures reaching 94 degrees. USC noted that the Week 0 timing of the matchup also played a role in the smaller crowd. Officials emphasized that they maintain high expectations for future home game environments. The Trojans currently feature upcoming home dates against Oregon, Washington, and Ohio State.
- •USC played San Jose State at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Saturday.
- •The university stated it understands the factors that impacted the crowd size.
- •Official turnout concerns followed images of an empty stadium circulating on social media.
- •Extreme heat and the noon start time were cited as contributors to the low attendance.
- •Future home games include matchups against Oregon, Washington, and Ohio State.
- 11:00 PMYahoo Sports — USC issues statement on poor home opener attendance after images of empty LA Coliseum go viral
"It seems that everyone has now seen pictures of a barren Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum for USC’s home opener against the San Jose State Spartans on Saturday. In fact, the poor attendance for Lincoln Riley’s Trojan squad got so much attention that the university itself felt the need to issue a statement in response. In…
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