The USC Trojans began Week 2 with the Georgia Southern Eagles making their debut visit, guided by coach Clay Helton, a well-known figure among Trojans supporters.
Following a commanding 73-13 victory last weekend against the Missouri State Bears, USC is gearing up for another home match at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum against the former USC coach.
While the competition in Weeks 1 and 2 was non-conference and the Trojans were favored, attendance at the Coliseum has been underwhelming for a venue that accommodates 77,500 fans. Last week, the Coliseum welcomed only 62,841 spectators, which is respectable for a home opener against a first-time FBS rival.
For today’s game against the Eagles, there seem to be numerous empty seats visible at kickoff.
Here’s the scene at the Coliseum just before kickoff of USC-Georgia Southern pic.twitter.com/bx18ByNWaa
— Ryan Kartje (@Ryan_Kartje) September 6, 2025
USC home games have seen lower attendance figures like today, yet have also hosted record crowds for numerous contests such as the 2017 USC vs. UCLA rivalry, attracting over 82,000 fans.
It’s a bustling evening at the campus, as USC women’s volleyball is hosting the Trojan Invitational, featuring teams like San Diego Toreros, the Creighton Bluejays, and the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos, which may contribute to the lower attendance at kickoff.
The Trojans’ fanbase is loyal, although not always punctual. The opening quarter for the Trojans and Eagles displayed a stadium gradually filling up, with fewer empty seats each play.
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Regarding the student section, which was barely filled at kickoff, an enthusiastic student fanbase is slowly occupying more seats.
The Trojans wrapped up the first quarter with a strong 21-6 lead, bolstered by two touchdowns from wide receiver Makai Lemon and one from Ja’Kobi Lane, whose spectacular one-handed catch in the end zone electrified the audience.
USC’s offense previously scored 73 points in their match against Missouri State and is on track to challenge that score against Georgia Southern. Quarterback Jayden Maiava has completed 12 of 18 passes for 304 yards and four touchdowns. USC led 31-13 at halftime, highlighted by a remarkable touchdown catch by wide receiver Ja’Kobi Lane, who amassed three receptions for 91 yards and one touchdown.
The second quarter’s attendance showed improvement, indicative of growing energy as the Trojans sought to uplift their performance.
Although attendance numbers for today’s game are yet to be confirmed, fans are adopting a late-arrival style to these non-conference home games, especially in the warmth of a September evening in Los Angeles.
