USC opened its 2026 college football season on Saturday, but you wouldn’t necessarily know it from looking around the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
Lincoln Riley and the Trojans took the field for their season opener vs. San Jose State with thousands of empty seats visible throughout the stadium, creating some less-than-ideal optics for one of the biggest brands in college football.
And the scene was noticeable from the moment Riley and USC ran onto the field.
The Coliseum officially holds more than 77,000 fans, making it one of the most recognizable venues in college football. But large sections of empty seats could be seen around the stadium as USC kicked off its season.
There are obviously factors that can contribute to a late-arriving Los Angeles crowd, and USC entered Saturday as a massive favorite against San Jose State. It’s hardly the kind of matchup expected to generate the atmosphere of a rivalry game or Big Ten showdown.
Still, this is USC.
The Trojans are entering Year 5 of the Lincoln Riley era and coming off a disappointing 9-4 season in 2025. Riley has yet to lead USC to the College Football Playoff since leaving Oklahoma for Los Angeles following the 2021 season.
That makes 2026 an important season for both Riley and the program as USC tries to establish itself as a legitimate Big Ten and College Football Playoff contender.
Saturday’s crowd certainly doesn’t determine how USC’s season will play out.
But for a program with USC’s history, resources and expectations, the sight of the Coliseum covered in empty seats for a season opener was difficult to ignore.
