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The college football season officially commenced Saturday with USC hosting San Jose State at the Coliseum in Los Angeles. The No. 14-ranked Trojans delivered a dominant performance, leading 28-0 at halftime and extending their advantage to 35-3 entering the fourth quarter in what became a decisive one-sided affair.
Despite the lopsided victory, the most notable aspect of the game proved to be the notably thin crowd that attended the Trojans’ season debut. The sparse attendance at USC’s historic stadium drew pointed criticism from observers, who characterized the turnout as substandard for a program of the university’s stature competing at the national level.
The empty seats presented an unfavorable image for a storied program that has produced numerous Hall of Famers and championship contenders throughout its history, including Reggie Bush, Matt Leinart, Carson Palmer, Caleb Williams, and Junior Seau. With the team ranked 14th nationally and expectations of competing for a national title in the coming months, the weak home attendance underscored challenges in generating fan engagement in Los Angeles.
While officials did not immediately disclose official attendance figures, observers noted the visible gaps in the stadium despite favorable weather conditions and a matchup featuring a heavily favored home team.
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