Updated

Updated · Fox News · Aug 31

St. Thomas Aquinas Blanks DeSoto 38-0 by Halftime, Triggering Running Clock in 2nd Half

Updated

Updated · Fox News · Aug 31

St. Thomas Aquinas Blanks DeSoto 38-0 by Halftime, Triggering Running Clock in 2nd Half

Q: What is the real reason behind USC’s lowest home attendance since 2018 despite a dominant opening victory?

USC’s low turnout was driven mainly by game-day conditions, not the score. The clearest factor was extreme heat: kickoff came at noon in Los Angeles during a heat advisory, with temperatures around 94 degrees and a “real feel” above 100. The Coliseum offers limited shade, and multiple fan accounts described the seats and concourses as uncomfortably hot. The timing and opponent also mattered. A Week 0 noon kickoff is difficult in Southern California, where travel, parking, and midday heat can discourage walk-up crowds. San Jose State was not viewed as a marquee draw, especially compared with USC’s later home games against Ohio State, Oregon, and Washington. USC itself acknowledged that “factors” affected attendance and said it expects stronger crowds for the rest of the season. There is also a broader program context. Critics argued the sparse crowd reflected more than weather alone, pointing to fan skepticism after several uneven seasons under Lincoln Riley. USC is a major brand, but in Los Angeles attention is highly competitive and tends to be earned through sustained high-level results, not just preseason expectations or an opening win over an overmatched opponent. So the real reason was a combination of severe heat, a noon Week 0 start, limited stadium comfort, and a lesser opponent, with some added effect from lingering fan caution about the program’s trajectory.

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Aug 31

38-0 at halftime, St. Thomas Aquinas overwhelmed DeSoto in Fort Lauderdale, turning a touted interstate matchup into a rout before the break.
A running clock shortened the second half to 15 minutes, underscoring how one-sided the game became after DeSoto fell hopelessly behind.
St. Thomas entered with major pedigree, having won 7 straight Florida state championships and long standing as one of the state's high school powers.
The blowout fed the familiar debate over which state produces the best high school football talent, with Florida's case strengthened against a prominent Texas program.