Saturday, the University of Southern California Trojans held their home opener against San Jose State, defeating the Spartans 42-26. The start of college football means the start of back-to-school, the start of the real college experience, and a chance for students and fans to come together and support not just the game, but also school spirit. However, that wasn’t the case for last weekend’s crowd at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
The Coliseum holds over 7o,ooo fans at capacity, but according to USA Today, Jordan Mendoza, “The announced attendance for the game was 51,144, its lowest figure under Lincoln Riley and lowest since 2018. In reality, the number of people actually at the game was much less.”
Weather in California on Saturday may have played a major role in the lack of fan attendance, and the University accounted for it.
“We understand the factors that impacted Saturday’s attendance,” USC said in a statement to USA TODAY Sports. “We have high expectations and a premier home schedule this season, and we know the competitive advantage an electric Coliseum atmosphere can provide our program. We thank our fans who showed up Saturday and look forward to seeing increased attendance the rest of the season.”
Barstool Sports president Dave Portnoy and his team reacted to the lackluster crowd on their morning show, Wake Up Barstool.
The crowd for the USC opener was an absolute disgrace. You can’t consider them a tier one college football program if that’s how you open the season pic.twitter.com/eOvohM6U9R
— Dave Portnoy (@stoolpresidente) August 31, 2026
“Guess where it’s gonna be hot? Everywhere else in the country this weekend- in Texas, in Alabama, in Georgia- it’s going to be this hot everywhere; there will be 100,000 people in every single stadium; it’ll be full because they are excited to see their team. Just own up and say, ‘Southern California and California as a whole just doesn’t love college football the way they used to.’ Don’t make up these stupid excuses like weather because that’s ridiculous; that’s a top 15 team playing in front of nobody,” Brandon Walker said.
“This is a disgrace. Don’t give me heat; don’t give me a start early. If you’re a real college football team, this doesn’t happen in a million years. It’s an absolute disgrace. Now, USC obviously is a power program: great fight song, great colors, great uniform, great everything, and they may be very good this year, but that is disgusting, and you cant consider them a tier-one college football program if that’s how they’re going to open the season. You just can’t; disgusting!” Portnoy responded.
The Trojans play their next home game vs Fresno State on September 4th. The game is scheduled for 9 p.m., so weather should not be an “excuse.”
About Barry Hunter