Travis Dye is a Rock in the Run Game for USC

It’s impossible to overstand the importance of running back Travis Dye to this USC team, both on and off the field. The veteran transfer from Oregon immediately became the clear starter at running back and a vocal leader in the locker room upon arriving at USC. Big things were expected from Dye in leading a high-powered running game and offense. Six games into the season, he’s been even better.

Dye carried the ball 28 times for 149 yards and a touchdown against Washington State. It was a season high for Dye in terms of carries and yards. And he now has four 100-yard games on the ground this year.

He was vitally important when the passing game faltered against Oregon State. He ran for 133 yards and a key touchdown against the Beavers. And Dye was up for carrying the load once again when the passing game faltered a bit against Washington State.

“It’s very important,” head coach Lincoln Riley said of Dye’s ability to be a focal point of the offense. “He’s a tough player. He’s a very reliable player. I have a lot of trust and faith in what we’re going to get from him each and every week.”

Dye, as usual, deflected credit to the big men up front.

“All credit goes out to the o-line,” Dye said. “That defensive line is crazy good. And that defensive coordinator can really dial it up. And the o-line, with IDing and everything, and blocking it up, it was wonderful tonight. It was all credit to them.”

Dye’s 28 carries were the most for a USC running back since Ronald Jones logged 30 in the 2017 Pac-12 Championship Game. The 149 rushing yards were the fourth-most for Dye in his career.

Dye Leading Off the Field as Well

It’s not just on the field where Dye has been a key component. He’s a consistent and vocal leader for the Trojans in the locker room as well.

“I love what he stands for,” Riley said of Dye earlier this week. “He’s a competitive guy…He’s a source for energy and excitement and kind of mindset for our offense and really for the whole team. He’s got a strong voice because I think people respect him, how he goes about his business. They respect what he’s done in his career. And I appreciate that he’s made it a point to not just come in here, be a good running back and get better as a running back. He’s come in here because he wanted to make this place better. He wanted to have a really big impact on this team. And he’s doing it on the field and he’s doing it off the field.”

The Next One is the Biggest One

The next challenge for USC and Dye is this Saturday as the Trojans travel to Salt Lake City and the Utah Utes. Utah’s run defense has been extremely hot and cold this season. The Utes completely shut down the Arizona State ground game, but Oregon State went for 171 yards on the ground and UCLA just hit the 200-yard mark against the Utes. The season started with Florida rushing for 283 yards against Utah in the Swamp.

This game might have lost some national appeal following Utah’s loss to UCLA yesterday. But nothing this season has mattered more to the USC players than the game last week.

Dye led the charge this past week in preaching focus and energy heading into Washington State. He delivered once again against the Cougars. How well he plays against Utah could play a big role in that outcome.