Actual attendance figures for the USC Trojans' first two home football games this season were significantly lower than the numbers announced by the university, according to data obtained by the California Post. The discrepancy has drawn attention amid public scrutiny of crowd sizes at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
For the season opener against San Jose State, USC announced a crowd of 51,144. However, gate scan data from the Los Angeles Fire Department indicates that only 35,585 people entered the stadium. This represents a difference of 15,559 fewer fans than the announced "tickets out" figure, which includes tickets sold but not necessarily attendance by stadium staff, band members, or credentialed media.
The attendance for the second home game, against Fresno State, showed a smaller gap. USC announced 53,014 for this game, while the scan count reached 45,833. This means 7,181 fewer people were in attendance than reported, though it was an increase of 10,248 scan counts from the season opener. Pleasant weather on game day, with temperatures in the 70s, is believed to have contributed to the higher attendance compared to the opener, which was played in 94-degree heat.
A USC football spokesperson declined to comment on the attendance figures. The relatively sparse crowds have led to criticism on social media and from some college football coaches, who have questioned fan commitment. Texas Tech coach Joey McGuire, for instance, contrasted USC's crowds with the robust attendance in Lubbock, Texas.
USC coach Lincoln Riley has previously called such criticism a "false narrative," asserting that attendance has increased annually during his tenure and that the Coliseum has hosted "epic atmospheres." However, records indicate that average attendance for USC home games actually dipped from 71,571 in the 2024 season to 67,783 in 2025.
Another modest crowd is anticipated for the upcoming game against Louisiana, particularly with an 8 p.m. kickoff. Larger attendance numbers are expected for subsequent home games against Big Ten opponents like Oregon, Washington, and Ohio State, which are anticipated to draw bigger crowds both in terms of announced figures and actual fans present.