Travis Dye reveals the keys to USC's success in the run game

USC completely rebuilt its roster during the offseason. With new head coach Lincoln Riley coming to town, he used the transfer portal to restructure the Trojans. That included the running game where he brought in players like Travis Dye to lead the team moving forward. However, it was never going to be a sure thing that the running game would operate the way they needed it to. To this point, though, things have worked out for the Trojans.

Following USC’s win over Fresno State, Travis Dye was asked what was clicking in the running game.

“A lot of things,” Travis Dye replied. “You know, our o-linemen are really, you know, starting to realize their roles and their jobs. Truly starting to grasp the concepts of our running game.”

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“And, I couldn’t be happier, to be honest. My running game, it’s taken a lot of strides since I first got here and we’re going to keep getting better.”

During USC’s 45 to 17 win over Fresno State, Travis Dye had 11 carries for 102 yards and a touchdown. In USC’s running back by committee backfield, Dye wasn’t the team’s leading rusher. That was Austin Jones, who had 110 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries.

USC rushed for 233 yards and four touchdowns as a team.

Travis Dye on Austin Jones competition

It’s clear that USC has multiple running backs who could be the starter for most teams in the country. There is still a real competition between Travis Dye and Austin Jones, which Dye has been open about.

“I know we both have the capability of doing it. You know, he’s a great back. I like to think of myself as a great back and that doesn’t mean that we have to be competitors, not even competitors, like hate each other, because we’re good backs. We can feed off each other. We can bounce ideas. If he does good, it just makes me want to be better, too. I see it as a great relationship,” Travis Dye said.