UCLA legend calls out empty Rose Bowl
Troy Aikman criticizes low attendance for the unbeaten Bruins as they chase a playoff spot.
By Harvey Wilson ·
UCLA quarterback Nico Iamaleava is out for the season. The Bruins are unbeaten. Yet the Rose Bowl stands largely empty. Troy Aikman, a Pro Football Hall of Famer and former All-American for the program, called the scene embarrassing this week.
The former quarterback noted that UCLA entered its game against Nevada last week with a 7-0 record. He said television broadcasts showed a stadium that appeared sparse. Aikman estimated the crowd size at 20,000 to 25,000 people. The Rose Bowl has a capacity of over 100,000.
"Little embarrassing that we were 7-0 going into last week's game (against Nevada) and, they shoot it pretty low (on TV) so you can't really tell when you're watching the game, I'm told there was about 20 to 25,000 people at the game," Aikman said on 96.7 The Ticket. "So when you have a stadium at the Rose Bowl that holds over 100,000, 25,000, it may as well be empty as opposed to some other stadiums that maybe hold 40,000."
Aikman questioned how to generate excitement for a team with a perfect record. He admitted he does not have a clear answer. He said fans must become engaged to support the team on its path to the College Football Playoff.
Head coach Bob Chesney is in his first season leading the program. The team has relied on Ty Dieffenbach and Wayne Knight on offense. They also feature one of the top defensive units in the country. Chesney told his players to ignore media drama surrounding the selection committee. He emphasized that the team's focus remains on winning football games.
Chesney addressed the lack of fan engagement two weeks ago. He said the administration has provided free access and travel plans. He urged students to talk about the team and connect faces to the players on campus. He noted that the team has done everything possible regarding tickets and access.
UCLA posted a season-low attendance of 24,611 during its home win over Nevada on Oct. 31. USA Today reported that FBS home game attendance on Halloween this season was 8.8% lower than the 2025 average. Only Duke and Stanford have filled less than 50% of their seating capacity for home games this season.
The Bruins host Illinois at the Rose Bowl on Friday. They then travel to Michigan on Nov. 21. The team plays USC on Nov. 28, a matchup that should draw a full crowd due to Big Ten and playoff implications.
