Exclusive | Heisman trophy winner Matt Leinart has a message for USC fans after ugly Coliseum turnout

If anyone remembers when the Coliseum’s announced attendance didn’t come with a social media debate it’s Matt Leinart. During Leinart’s reign as the USC Trojans’ quarterback, the old concrete bowl was the epicenter of football in Los Angeles.Each and every game it was packed with fans watching two Heisman Trophy winners lead the Trojans through one of the greatest stretches in program history.

There was never any doubt whether or not the program mattered.But Last Saturday afternoon, the echoes reverberated louder than the crowd.USC opened its 2026 season with a 42-26 victory over San Jose State in front of an “announced” crowd of 51,144 fans at the 77,500-seat capacity Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.Videos from those in attendance during the game show empty patches of cardinal-colored seats that quickly became a national talking point.The videos circulated on social media.Jokes, arguments, and excuses followed.

They ranged from the triple-digit heat index to USC students not yet back at school to the opponent and other entertainment options available. Leinart witnessed it all. But the 2004 Heisman Trophy winner isn’t ready to declare USC football dead because of it. “I don’t really buy into the narrative or the big picture of it all,” Leinart told the California Post exclusively Wednesday during a DraftKings Gameday event in Los Angeles.“It is the first game.”Still, Leinart wasn’t going to pretend the optics looked good.“Look, as a proud alum — obviously, I love football and I love USC — when you’re sitting there, naturally it’s a bummer that it’s not packed and [fans] aren’t rooting these kids on,” Leinart said.

“I get that.”What he doesn’t get is the idea that just because of one disappointing crowd there should be some grand referendum on USC football under head coach Lincoln Riley.“I understand that people take the narrative and then they start trashing USC and all that,” Leinart said.“At the end of ...