USC Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley has pushed back against the narrative of low attendance at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, calling the concerns a "false narrative."
Following USC's season-opening 42-26 victory over San Jose State University in Week 0, images circulated on social media showing numerous empty seats in the stadium. Despite the Trojans being ranked No. 14 entering the season and heavy favorites in the game, the visible lack of attendance sparked discussion among college football fans.
Riley addressed the issue during a recent press conference, stating, "This is USC, right? People are going to pay attention. People are going to have an opinion. It’s part of being a blue-blood school." He added, "I don’t buy into the false narrative. I think that comes from a lot of people that don’t follow our program. And most of those who have never set foot in the Coliseum."
The coach pointed to USC's home attendance record during his tenure, asserting, "The reality is during my years here, attendance has gone up every single year. As has our play in the Coliseum, including running the table last year in front of a lot of epic atmospheres and I expect that to happen again this year."
Factors such as the game-time temperature, which exceeded 90 degrees Fahrenheit, and USC's status as a five-touchdown favorite may have contributed to some fans' decisions to skip the opener. The West Coast is also known for its appreciation of summer weather.
USC is scheduled to host Fresno State on Friday, with the forecast in Los Angeles expected to be around 87 degrees and the game kicking off at 6 p.m. local time. The Trojans' upcoming schedule includes highly anticipated matchups against ranked opponents, including No. 2 Oregon on September 26 and No. 17 Washington the following week, culminating in a Halloween game against No. 1 Ohio State. Riley suggested that these marquee games, particularly against ranked rivals, would likely generate greater enthusiasm and attendance.
The Trojans aim to manage outside noise and maintain focus as the college football season progresses. Riley implied that strong team performance and continued engagement from the fanbase would ultimately silence any persistent doubts about attendance.
