USC releases odd statement about attendance at game vs. San Jose State: 'We understand the factors'

USC enters a pivotal season under Lincoln Riley, with hopes that the return of QB Jayden Maiava spearheads a season that puts the Trojans near the top of the Big Ten.

When USC opened the season against San Jose State on Saturday, however, fan support was lacking.

The seats at the LA Memorial Coliseum were noticeably emptier than one would expect for such a prestigious program, and the negative attention got so loud that USC issued a statement about the attendance on Monday.

Here's a look at what USC had to say.

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USC statement about low attendance at game vs. San Jose State

In a statement to USA Today, USC tried to put an end to the noise surrounding the empty seats at its Week 0 game.

"We understand the factors that impacted Saturday’s attendance," the statement reads. "We have high expectations and a premier home schedule this season, and we know the competitive advantage an electric Coliseum atmosphere can provide our program. We thank our fans who showed up Saturday and look forward to seeing increased attendance the rest of the season."

Those factors, while not specified by USC, likely start with the weather. It was a brutally hot day in Los Angeles on Saturday, and the Coliseum offers little protection against the sun. One other factor might be the opponent, as San Jose State is not a Power Four program and hasn't won more than seven games in a season since 2012.

USC touted a "premier home schedule," though the Trojans face Fresno State and Louisiana in their next two home dates. USC's Big Ten home schedule features Oregon, Washington, Ohio State and Maryland.

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How many people attended USC's game vs. San Jose State?

USC listed its attendance as 51,144 for Saturday's game, which is the program's lowest attendance since 2018 and therefore the lowest since Lincoln Riley took the reins in 2022.

LA Memorial Coliseum currently seats 77,500 fans, so that figure accounts for more than 26,000 empty seats. Images from the game seemingly confirm the actual attendance figure was much less than 51,144, as a majority of seats appear to be empty.

USC vs. San Jose State crowd pictures

Here are some shots from just before kickoff and at kickoff, showing LA Memorial Coliseum with what appears to be a majority of seats empty:

The Coliseum at kickoff of USC’s season opener with San Jose State pic.twitter.com/4bOhMY487b

— Ryan Kartje (@RyanKartje) August 29, 2026

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, 2026

Former NFL cornerback Will Blackmon, who attended the game, said he believes weather was a major reason for the low attendance numbers:

— Will Blackmon (@WillBlackmon) August 29, 2026

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USC average attendance last season

USC averaged 67,783 fans per home game in 2025, though as Saturday's announced figure indicates, that might not be an accurate estimation of who actually attended the games.

For comparison to 2026, USC announced an attendance of 62,841 fans for its opener against Conference USA's Missouri State last season. The announced figure for Saturday's opener against San Jose State came in at more than 11,000 below that mark.