USC football ripped for pathetic crowd at home opener: 'Absolutely embarrassing'
USC's home football opener against San Jose State drew criticism for low attendance despite the team's high ranking. Pundits and fans expressed disappointment at the empty stadium, contrasting the scene with the program's historical prestige.
Why it matters
The incident highlights the challenges of maintaining fan engagement in major college sports programs and the shifting landscape of collegiate athletics.
College football is BACK. Can you feel it? It's in the air! We've waited months for today. We put our heads down all winter and spring. We suffered through the insufferable summer weather. We made it through the awful WNBA drama. We waited for today — for this moment. Week Zero. The unofficial start of the college football season. It's the best Saturday of the year ... ONE OF THESE EIGHT COLLEGE FOOTBALL TEAMS WILL BE HOISTING THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP TROPHY IN 2026 Unless you're in Los Angeles. USC, the No. 14 team in the country, opened up their 2026 season this afternoon at home against San Jose State. The Trojans, of course, dominated. They went into the half up 28-0, and took a 35-3 lead into the fourth quarter. It was always going to be a blowout, and it was.
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