Fans and media can be cruel when it comes to college football, and sometimes the criticism that programs receive has nothing to do with what is actually going on between the lines.
Take Saturday’s Week 0 matchup at the historic Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, where No. 14 USC was trying to launch a very crucial 2026 season in a very successful way. There is enormous pressure on the Trojans and specifically on head coach Lincoln Riley to finally get to the College Football Playoff and silence those doubters.
The doubt is pointed at USC and it’s pointed at Riley, who got Oklahoma to the Playoff 3 times but hasn’t done the trick so far in SoCal. But guess what else was pointed at USC (and indirectly Riley) as the 2026 season got going on Saturday? That would be what was happening in the stands at the Coliseum, or specifically what wasn’t happening as the Trojans were methodically taking apart overmatched San Jose State.
There will be time for fans and media to crush Riley and the Trojans for their play on the field, and that likely won’t happen on Saturday with USC already up 21-0 in the 2nd quarter. But those fans and media have eyes all around, and the nationally televised game on NBC was clearly showing everybody that fans weren’t all keyed up for the nonconference opener.
Perhaps the noon local time start in Los Angeles and the lack of a premiere Week 0 opponent had something to do with the low attendance, but it didn’t stop the social media avalanche from devouring USC about the sparse crowd.
Here is just a sampling of the social media onslaught on Saturday:
USC should build a Northwestern-like stadium that seats 30,000 people. Seeing every home game ever at 20% capacity is depressing. pic.twitter.com/1JtwXoj3mc
— CJ Vogel (@CJVogel_OTF) August 29, 2026There's like 11 people here and I totally understand why.#USC pic.twitter.com/jED6SmXDX4
— USC Psycho (@uscpsycho) August 29, 2026There’s like 12 people at this USC home opener
— Brooks Austin (@BrooksAustinBA) August 29, 2026There are less than a thousand “fans” in the stands at the USC gameEmbarrassing program pic.twitter.com/9MZhgKVTxP
— Re2pect Sports (@Re2pectsport) August 29, 2026the USC game is so empty I'm surprised they didn't move it to the los angeles sports arena
— Robert O'Neill (@RobertONeill31) August 29, 2026USC is such a joke. You call this a top 20 program?Arkansas had triple the amount of fans and they were 2-10 last year. pic.twitter.com/OaxjFoN9Me
— Random SEC (@therandomsec) August 29, 2026Is that a real live shot? Just turned on NBC & no way does the Coliseum have 1000 fans inside waiting for #USC to kickoff! What an embarrassment.
— Tim Hyde (@CoachTimmyHyde) August 29, 2026This is why nobody takes USC’s fanbase seriously . The few that actually care run their mouths on social Media 24/7 but when it comes time to actually physically show up and support the team, the stadium is empty . Embarrassing. The SC fan base isn’t even real, the LA way pic.twitter.com/MrymZ5EyKU
— Always Irish (@AlwaysIrishINC) August 29, 2026USC stadium with 8 minutes left in the first quarter looks hilarious. Maybe 30,000 people in the stands. About 1/3-3/8 full stadium. What an embarrassment
— Paxton Biggs (@PaxBiggs) August 29, 2026USC can’t even fill 5% of its seats for its season opener lol t.co/dgzn8sV7xa
— InAllKindsOfWeather.com (@AllKindsWeather) August 29, 2026Hello? pic.twitter.com/6FrRuNptnA
— Blain Crain (@Blain_Crain) August 29, 2026No matter how many fans showed up on Saturday or how many show up for the rest of USC’s home games, there is a battle for the Trojans and that’s to finally make the Playoff in 2026. Here is what the Kalshi market currently thinks about those chances as USC looks to get over that hump this fall:
Prediction Markets College Football Playoff Qualifiers 2026 Learn more about Prediction Markets Kalshi Notre Dame 81% Ohio St. 75% Oregon 74% Georgia 67% Texas 64% LSU 49% Alabama 41% Texas A&M 39% Ole Miss 39% Clemson 17% PredictFans, media crush USC for sparse attendance in season opener Saturday Down South.
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