USC got exactly the kind of result Lincoln Riley wanted on Saturday afternoon. The Trojans rolled past San Jose State, 42-26, and the game was lopsided enough that USC emptied the bench in the second half.
But the score wasn’t what people kept talking about.
The real story was the sight inside the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, where a stadium built for 77,000 looked painfully bare at kickoff. Ryan Kartje of the Los Angeles Times and the Times of Troy newsletter posted a photo that set off a wave of ridicule online, with fans spread out across the venue and entire sections sitting empty.
For a program that backed out of the long-running rivalry with Notre Dame, the optics were brutal. The reaction came fast, and plenty of opposing fans made the same point: USC helped blow up the Pac-12 to chase Big Ten status, and now it couldn’t even come close to packing its own building.
“These guys blew up the Pac-12 so they could go be a Big Time football program. https://t.co/naTcgB7yUK”
Others piled on by comparing the turnout to what you’d see elsewhere, especially in the SEC, even with San Jose State on the other sideline.
“This would never happen in the SEC https://t.co/lTnDpZT61N”
USC fans did have one explanation ready: the heat. It was around 100 degrees, and they said there “wasn’t any shade.”
That defense didn’t hold up for long. Critics quickly pointed out that early-season football often means sweltering conditions, and plenty of programs still draw huge crowds in the same kind of weather.
“Arkansas went 2-10 last year and will have 70,000+ in attendance watching them play an FCS bottom dweller in 100 degree heat https://t.co/WcoSnxDQ4S”
That only opened the door to more mockery, with some fans saying USC was acting like it had discovered hot kickoff temperatures for the first time.
“USC fans acting like they’re the only ones who have ever experienced 100+ degree weather at kick off is quite entertaining https://t.co/2bZJRxCAjD”
And then came the comparison that stung even more: South Carolina’s version of USC. One fan pointed out that the other USC will have nearly identical conditions next weekend and still show up in force for a noon start against Kent State.
“One USC fanbase blamed the heat for today’s turnout.
Next Saturday in 100 degree weather, the other USC will have 80,000 packed into Williams Brice Stadium at 12:45pm ET to watch a game vs Kent State. Shoes will be melting but they’ll be there.
It just means more. https://t.co/RMZGBcwLJ9 pic.twitter.com/rtpYHUkV3p”
Attendance in Los Angeles has long been an easy target, but this one landed differently because of the way USC and Riley carry themselves. And with Notre Dame fans already annoyed over the rivalry breakup, they had every reason to enjoy the jokes at USC’s expense.
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For Irish fans, the connection made the situation especially notable. Cross and Foskey both came through Notre Dame with Golden involved in their development, which made the reunion feel like a natural fit heading into camp. Instead, the Bengals moved in a different direction, leaving two ex-Irish defenders looking for their next opportunity just as Cincinnati settled its opening-week roster. [Read more 🡒]