USC Trojans 2026 football season start

Ahead of the 2026 college football season, the University of Southern California (USC) announced several changes for its home games at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. These updates included “game day enhancements” such as new concessions, a change in the in-stadium host from DJ Mal-Ski to Hayley Elwood, and a return to a permanent captain model under head coach Lincoln Riley.

In its season opener, the USC Trojans defeated the San Jose State Spartans 42-26. While quarterback Jayden Maiava led a dominant first half, the event was marked by significant backlash regarding low attendance. Although official figures cited 51,144 attendees, viral images and observers suggested the actual crowd was much smaller, with some estimates placing the number closer to 25,000. The matchup against San Jose State had been a late addition to the schedule following a failed agreement for a planned game against Notre Dame.

In response to the criticism, USC released a statement acknowledging “factors” that impacted turnout, including extreme heat—with heat-index temperatures reaching approximately 104 degrees—and the Week 0 scheduling. The university noted they implemented a “heat plan” to assist fans and expressed “high expectations” for future home games. Sports media personalities criticized the situation, with Paul Finebaum mocking the university’s statement as sounding “AI generated” and calling the attendance a “disgrace,” while Kirk Herbstreit urged supporters to attend games despite weather or timing as the team enters the Big Ten.