USC’s season opener is drawing criticism after what outlets describe as a disappointing turnout from fans in the Los Angeles area, despite efforts to make tickets more accessible. Multiple reports say even low-cost or “bargain-bin” ticket options do not appear to substantially improve attendance.
The coverage across outlets frames the event as a contrast between what USC provides to supporters and what audiences deliver in practice. One outlet emphasizes that USC “gives its fans everything they could have wanted” during the opener, while the other echoes the same point and focuses on the attendance outcome. Together, the reporting suggests the core focus is spectator turnout rather than on-field performance.
While both sources use similar language and align on the broad takeaway, they differ in emphasis: one stresses embarrassment tied to the crowd size, and the other repeats the notion that the match itself meets fan expectations while the turnout falls short. Overall, the accounts converge on low attendance as the central issue.
