Empty red seats at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum shouldn't make national headlines, but they always do. When No. 14 USC kicked off its season with a 42-26 win over San Jose State, the scoreboard told one story. The stands told another.
Official figures claimed 51,144 people walked through the gates. Television broadcasts and social media photos painted a different picture, showing vast expanses of vacant aluminum. National pundits pounced instantly. ESPN personality Paul Finebaum called the turnout a disgrace, and opposing coaches like Texas Tech’s Joey McGuire took subtle digs at the program's atmosphere. Read more on a connected issue: this related article.
Lincoln Riley heard enough noise by Tuesday.
The USC head coach didn't dodge the questions ahead of their next game against Fresno State. Instead, he fired back, labeling the intense criticism a "false narrative" pushed by outsiders who rarely step foot inside the historic venue. More analysis by NBC Sports explores similar views on this issue.
Decoding the Coliseum Reality
Is Riley just spinning PR gold, or does he have a point? Let's look at the actual numbers instead of chasing internet outrage.
When Riley took over in Los Angeles, attendance numbers climbed steadily. The Trojans averaged roughly 64,484 fans in 2022, bumped that up to 66,071 in 2023, and saw further growth during their initial push into the Big Ten era. Sure, 2025 dipped slightly to an average of 67,783 per game, but the team still ran the table and went undefeated at home.
The Week 0 opener against San Jose State hit a low-water mark for the Riley era, dropping down to just over 51,000 announced tickets. Critics frame this as a symptom of a fading fanbase losing patience during a crucial make-or-break season.
They're ignoring the basic physics of game day in Southern California.
The Weather Factor Nobody Wants to Acknowledge
Kickoff for that season opener happened at noon local time. Los Angeles was choking under an extreme heat advisory issued by the National Weather Service. Temperatures at kickoff sat at a brutal 94 degrees, pushing the heat index to a scorching 104.
Try sitting on metal benches under an unrelenting September sun for four hours while holding a five-touchdown-favorite ticket against a Mountain West opponent. Casual fans stayed home. Resale tickets dropped as low as $9, and local supporters chose air conditioning over a blowout win.
It wasn't a referendum on Riley's coaching tenure. It was basic human survival.
The Blue Blood Tax
Coaches at places like USC live under a microscope. When you manage a traditional blue blood, every empty seat becomes a symbol of institutional decay to people who spend their Saturdays watching games from basement couches.
Joey McGuire can brag about packing 60,000 into Lubbock, but Texas Tech doesn't compete with Southern California's endless list of alternative weekend entertainment options under a blistering desert sun.
Riley understands this dynamic better than his critics. "This is USC, right? People are gonna pay attention. People are gonna have an opinion," Riley noted.
What Actually Matters Next
Empty seats against San Jose State won't matter when the real heavyweights roll into town. The Coliseum schedule later this fall features blockbusters against Oregon, Washington, and an ominous Halloween matchup with Ohio State.
Those games won't suffer from ticket lulls. Demand for elite opponents always fixes attendance issues in Los Angeles.
If you're heading to the Coliseum for upcoming Friday night games under more reasonable evening temperatures, expect a completely different vibe. Stop buying into the manufactured panic, and let the season actually play out on the field.
