USC got the result it wanted on the field Saturday afternoon. The Trojans rolled past San Jose State, 42-26, and were able to clear the bench in the second half after building a comfortable lead.
But the conversation around the opener had little to do with the scoreboard. Instead, the picture that spread online from kickoff at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum told the louder story: huge empty stretches of seats, scattered pockets of fans, and a crowd that never looked anywhere close to the stadium’s 77,000-seat capacity.
That image, posted by USC beat writer Ryan Kartje of the Los Angeles Times and the Times of Troy newsletter, set off the kind of backlash the Trojans probably didn’t need after backing out of the long-running Notre Dame rivalry. Rival fan bases jumped in fast, using the scene to take aim at USC and UCLA for leaving the Pac-12 for the Big Ten while still struggling to fill their own building.
“These guys blew up the Pac-12 so they could go be a Big Time football program.”
Others mocked the turnout by comparing it to what they said would happen elsewhere, especially in the SEC, even against a weak opponent like San Jose State.
“This would never happen in the SEC”
USC supporters tried to explain away the sparse look by pointing to the heat, saying it was around 100 degrees and there “wasn't any shade.” But that defense didn’t land cleanly online. Fans from around the country pushed back by noting that early-season heat is hardly unique, and that plenty of programs still draw big numbers in brutal conditions.
“Arkansas went 2-10 last year and will have 70,000+ in attendance watching them play an FCS bottom dweller in 100 degree heat”
“USC fans acting like they’re the only ones who have ever experienced 100+ degree weather at kick off is quite entertaining”
The ridicule kept rolling, with one South Carolina fan pointing out that the other USC will play next weekend in nearly identical weather and still pack Williams-Brice Stadium.
“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.”
Attendance issues in Los Angeles are nothing new, but this one hit a nerve because of the way USC and Lincoln Riley tend to carry themselves. For Notre Dame fans in particular, the empty Coliseum offered a pretty satisfying bit of payback after being left behind.
In Other News...
Texas Fans Will Notice A Few Surprises On This NFL Roster List
All 32 NFL teams have set their 53-man rosters for the 2026 season, and the latest roundup includes a healthy Longhorns presence across the league. There are the expected names from Texas, but also a few roster developments that should catch the eye of Longhorn fans keeping tabs on former players as they settle into their pro careers.
Among the more notable moves, the Dallas Cowboys waived running back Jaydon Blue, while undrafted defensive end Ethan Burke landed on the Baltimore Ravens roster. The full list of former Texas players who either made active rosters or ended up on injured reserve offers a useful snapshot of how the program continues to spread through the NFL, even if a few of the most interesting storylines are still unfolding. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Soccer Has Plenty To Celebrate After Another Dominant Showing
Texas kept rolling at Mike A. Myers Stadium with a 6-0 win over Incarnate Word, another performance that showed just how balanced and relentless this group has been to start the season. Five different Longhorns found the net, with Amalia Villarreal, Ava McDonald, Audrey Bryant, Kennedi Cotter and Callan Harrington all getting in on the scoring, while an own goal added to the margin in a night that never really felt in doubt.
The larger takeaway for Texas may be the way it controlled the match from start to finish, outshooting Incarnate Word 21-9 and collecting its fourth clean sheet in six matches. Those are the kinds of numbers that suggest more than a hot streak, especially for a team that is spreading the offense around and making life difficult on both sides of the ball. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Fans Are Mourning A Key Big Man From The Final Four Era
Texas basketball lost one of its familiar big men this week when Jason Klotz, a former Longhorns center, died at 44, according to Texas officials. Klotz spent five seasons in Austin and was part of a memorable stretch that included three straight Sweet 16 trips and the programs Final Four run, making him a recognizable piece of that era for fans who followed the team closely.
After his college career, Klotz continued playing professionally overseas and later spent time in the Orlando Magic summer league. For Longhorns supporters, his death is a reminder of how many important figures from that Final Four group remain tied to the programs history, even as the details surrounding his passing have not been made public. [Read more 🡒]