Where is everybody? USC football opens season to empty LA Coliseum

Where is everybody? USC football opens season to empty LA Coliseum.

Key points

• 14 Southern California kicked off its highly anticipated 2026 season in Week 0, but scorching weather has resulted in a sparse crowd at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
• Mike Norvell, Luke Fickell and Lincoln Riley lead the list of coaches facing pressure entering the 2026 college football season.
• The stadium wasn't filled much when the Trojans and Spartans kicked off at noon local time on Saturday, Aug.
• The game comes as it's been one of the hottest times in Southern California in 2026, with much higher than usual humidity levels worsening the effects outside.
• Lincoln Riley joins coaches facing major pressure in 2026.

Where is everybody? USC football opens season to empty LA Coliseum. Jordan Mendoza USA TODAY. Lincoln Riley joins coaches facing major pressure in 2026.

LOS ANGELES – No. 14 Southern California kicked off its highly anticipated 2026 season in Week 0, but scorching weather has resulted in a sparse crowd at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

Notably, the stadium wasn't filled much when the Trojans and Spartans kicked off at noon local time on Saturday, Aug. 29.

While you would think there would be plenty of reason to turn up for USC's season opener, there are factors at play it doesn't have much control of.

Meanwhile, the game comes as it's been one of the hottest times in Southern California in 2026, with much higher than usual humidity levels worsening the effects outside. It's why the U.S. National Weather Service issued an extreme heat advisory for much of the region. Temperature at kick off was 94 degrees, with a real feel temperature of 104 degrees, according to AccuWeather.

As well as the small interest in an opponent like San Jose State, it's straightforward to understand why not numerous individuals are in the stands for the game, given the temperature and the lack of shade inside the Coliseum.

While the stadium does look emptier than it should be, the crowd has grown as the game went on, presuming individuals waited out until the game actually kicked off to be in their seats. The student section in the northeast corner of the stadium has filled in noticeably since the game began, with that part of the stadium looking almost what is projected for a USC crowd. The emptiest part is on the west side of the stadium. Share your feedback to support improve our site!

For now, where is everybody? USC football opens season to empty LA Coliseum remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.