If anyone knows about the Coliseum’s attendance and how it didn’t spark debates on social media, it’s Matt Leinart.
Back when Leinart played quarterback for the USC Trojans, the Coliseum was truly the heart of football in Los Angeles. Each game, the stands were filled with fans cheering for two Heisman Trophy winners leading the team through one of its golden eras. There was never really a question of the program’s significance.
However, last Saturday afternoon, the silence was more noticeable than the cheering crowd.
USC kicked off its 2026 season with a 42-26 win against San Jose State, amidst an “announced” audience of 51,144 at the 77,500-seat Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
Videos circulating from the game showed many empty red seats, igniting conversations nationwide.
These clips prompted a wave of comments on social media, ranging from jokes to serious discussions about factors like the heat, students still being away for summer, the competition of other events, and more.
Leinart was paying attention.
But the 2004 Heisman Trophy winner isn’t quick to label USC football as lifeless just because of one game’s turnout.
“I don’t really get caught up in the broader narrative,” Leinart said during a DraftKings Gameday event in Los Angeles. “It’s just the first game.”
Yet, he acknowledged that the situation didn’t look great.
“As a proud alum—of course, I love football and USC—it’s disappointing to see empty seats and not have fans rallying for these players,” Leinart admitted. “I understand that.”
What he finds harder to accept is the notion that a single sparse crowd should lead to a sweeping judgment on USC football under head coach Lincoln Riley.
“People take one narrative and run with it, trashing USC,” stated Leinart. “But really, it’s the locker room and coaching staff that count. They just need to focus on winning, and everything else will follow.”
Riley responded by refuting the claims, calling them a “false narrative” and highlighting that attendance has been on the rise since he took over.
USC saw an average crowd of 71,571 in 2024 and 67,782 in 2025, representing about 93% of the stadium’s capacity. These figures place USC 19th among FBS teams and sixth in the Big Ten, trailing only behind schools with larger stadiums.
Nonetheless, in those other cities, college football is often the sole attraction. Not so in Los Angeles. The competitive sports landscape here means that fans expect winning; when they don’t get it, they can easily find other activities to occupy their time. Leinart remembers the Coliseum filled with excitement when USC fielded competitive teams.
“The Coliseum is a fantastic place to play football,” he said. “It’s really special.”
And this brings us to Friday night.
USC is set to host Fresno State at 6 p.m., and attendance has once again become a focal point of the event. This time, the afternoon heat may not be a viable excuse. The timing of the game—Friday night in L.A.—brings its own traffic-related challenges, and Fresno State isn’t exactly a marquee name.
After a week of speculation about fan enthusiasm, the entrance gates will provide some insights into that energy.
So, if you’re considering attending, Leinart has a simple message:
“I’d just encourage fans to show up and support,” he said. “There’s an exciting home schedule. You’ve got teams like Oregon and Ohio State coming in, and that squad is going to need all the backing they can get.”
The truth is, there’s really only one way for USC to tackle its attendance issue.
Win.
“At the end of the day, USC is 1-0,” Leinart noted. “They’ve got Fresno State this weekend, and they just need to keep winning. Proving they belong in the national conversation starts with these games.”
Friday night is another chance—both for the Trojans to keep their winning streak alive and for fans to return to the stands.
