USC’s home crowd has already been under the microscope this season, and Saturday’s matchup with Washington won’t do the Trojans any favors on the weather front.
For the No. 18 Trojans, the issue hasn’t just been who’s on the other sideline, or when the game kicks off, or even the sheer sprawl of Los Angeles. The heat has been part of the story too, and it’s lining up again for the Week 5 game against the Huskies at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
The matchup is set for Saturday, Oct. 3 at 4:30 p.m. PT, and AccuWeather is calling for “blazing sun and sweltering heat,” along with a 5.0 UV index. The forecast includes a high of 96 degrees, with it feeling more like 99.
If fans are getting to the Coliseum early, they’ll still be dealing with plenty of warmth. Mid-day tailgaters are looking at sunny skies, 92 degrees and 31 percent humidity.
By 4:00 p.m. PT, the sun is still out, the temperature dips only slightly to 90 degrees, and there should be a light 7 mph breeze.
At kickoff, it’s expected to be around 90 to 93 degrees, though the lack of shade in the stadium could push the feel closer to 95 degrees or higher. The sun begins setting around 6:30 p.m., and evening temperatures are projected around 79 degrees with humidity climbing to 50 percent.
Southern California’s late-summer heat is being driven by seasonal ocean temperature lag, shifting wind patterns and atmospheric high pressure. El Niño is adding another layer, bringing warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures to the eastern Pacific Ocean. That’s helping raise local humidity and making the conditions feel stickier than the usual dry heat fans associate with SoCal.
USC has already seen how weather can shape the look and feel of its home games. In the season opener against San Jose State, the university reported 51,114 in attendance, but the open seats were obvious both on screen and in the stadium.
The turnout drew criticism from social media, sports media personalities and even players’ parents. Kickoff time and opponent were part of the conversation, but the heat - which reached the mid to low 90s and felt even worse in the stands and on the field - appeared to be the biggest factor.
A week later, against Fresno State on Friday, Sept. 4 at 6 p.m. PST, attendance was listed at 53,014.
That was a step up, but the Coliseum still had plenty of empty seats, and the pre-kickoff atmosphere was thin. Heat may not have been the culprit that night, but Labor Day weekend likely played a role.
Then came Week 4 against Oregon, when USC said tickets were sold out before kickoff. The attendance number hasn’t been released yet, but the building finally had some life.
The weather was milder too, with temperatures in the low 80s at the 4:30 p.m. PST kickoff and dropping to 77 degrees, plus 8 to 10 mph winds.
Dan Lanning might want to claim the crowd, but USC’s fans will get another chance to answer that on Oct. 3.
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