Lincoln Riley Addresses USC's Fan Attendance Concerns

The USC Trojans reported an attendance of just over 51,000 for their season-opening game, a 42-26 victory against the San Jose State Spartans. However, the turnout appeared significantly lower in the context of The Coliseum's capacity of 77,000 seats.

The low attendance drew criticism, including remarks from Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire, who highlighted the expected turnout for his team's upcoming game. In response, Lincoln Riley defended his program, asserting that scrutiny is part of being a prominent school and dismissing what he termed a 'false narrative' about attendance.

Riley noted that attendance has increased during his tenure and pointed to the Trojans' undefeated home record last season. He acknowledged the challenging conditions of the noon kickoff during a heat advisory but expressed confidence that the upcoming game against Fresno State will see a larger crowd.