Texas Tech coach Joey McGuire responded to reporters on Monday, Aug. 31, with a pointed but playful comparison between his team’s upcoming home game and USC’s recent sparse turnout. McGuire began by expressing respect for USC and its coach, Lincoln Riley, before noting that Texas Tech expects a packed stadium when it hosts Abilene Christian on Sept. 5.
“Not to take any shots, because I have a lot of respect for USC and Lincoln Riley, but it’s really awesome to be playing in Lubbock, Texas, knowing we’re going to be playing in front of 60,000 (fans),” McGuire said. “It’s going to be warm. It’s going to be every bit as warm as it was Saturday.”
He continued, “The great thing is we got some really tough people in West Texas that love their football and they’re going to show up, no matter what the weather’s like. There’s not going to be any excuse of why they’re not going to be here for us.”
The backdrop for McGuire’s comments was USC’s 42-26 victory over San Jose State on Saturday, Aug. 29, at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The No. 14 Trojans played in front of an announced crowd of 51,144 — well below the stadium’s capacity of 77,500 and the lowest home attendance under Riley since he took over. The game was played under an extreme-heat advisory, with temperatures at 94 degrees at kickoff and a heat index that reportedly reached 110 degrees. Fans who attended described the conditions as miserable, comparing the seats to hot plates and the stadium to a sauna. USC attempted to mitigate the heat with cooling stations, fans, and relaxed water rules, but the sparse crowd became a talking point across college football.
Riley, who grew up in Muleshoe, Texas, and played quarterback at Texas Tech before serving as an assistant there from 2003 to 2009 under Mike Leach, did not publicly respond to McGuire’s remarks. USC, however, issued a statement acknowledging the situation.
“We understand the factors that impacted Saturday’s attendance,” the school said. “We have high expectations and a premier home schedule this season, and we know the competitive advantage an electric Coliseum atmosphere can provide our program. We thank our fans who showed up Saturday and look forward to seeing increased attendance the rest of the season.”
Texas Tech, meanwhile, has sold out its primary ticket inventory for the Abilene Christian game, which will be played at Galaxy Stadium. The Red Raiders are coming off a narrow 52-51 overtime win against the same opponent in 2024, and McGuire’s confidence in the Lubbock crowd is clear.
“It’s really awesome to be playing in Lubbock, Texas, knowing we’re going to be playing in front of 60,000 (fans),” he reiterated, adding that the heat will not deter his team’s supporters. “There’s not going to be any excuse of why they’re not going to be here for us.”