With a 55-17 win over Colorado Friday night, USC improved to 9-1 (7-1 Pac-12) on the season.

That start matches USC’s best as a team since 2008 — a team that went to the Rose Bowl and beat Penn State. The 9-1 record is also the best start by a USC head coach in their debut season since John Robinson went 9-1 to begin the 1976 campaign — another team that went to and won the Rose Bowl.

USC had some positive signs in the win but also endured a significant blow. USC running back Travis Dye suffered an apparent knee injury that is expected to sideline him for the rest of the season. Coach Lincoln Riley met with the media after the game to talk about Dye’s injury, the defensive performance, and more.

Here’s everything he said, with video of the press conference below:

Opening statement

“Ninth win. That’s some really cool times of the team surging on all three sides, which we said was going to be a big deal. I thought our guys responded and did. Played pretty well defensively from the jump — pressure, just sound play across the board. It took a little bit to get going offensively, but we were able to settle in there and get rolling pretty good. I’m proud of the way that everybody stepped up. Our guys were awesome. Obviously really proud of the win and to get another one here at home. Some exciting opportunities are coming up that we look forward to.”

On Travis Dye’s injury

“That’s tough. It shook us all a little bit. He’s such an emotional leader, and a senior. That sucks. There’s really no other way to put it. It’s one of the tough parts of this game. This game, it’s given Travis a lot. He’s put a lot into it and he’s had an awesome career. He’s had an awesome run here for us this year, and there’s no way we would be sitting here where we’re at as a football team without him. His role will probably be a little bit different going forward here for this team, but he’ll still be a huge leader and a huge part of it. He’s got a lot of great ball and a lot of other great things ahead of him right now. He’s married way over his head, so he’s definitely got that going for him. We love him, and it’s an unfortunate part of this game.”

“Don’t expect that he’ll play again this year, but don’t expect it to be anything long-term in terms of his future. He’s gonna be playing on an NFL team next year, and probably playing really well. It breaks your heart, it does. But again, it’s part of the game and that’s why you have to appreciate every opportunity that you get to coach it, especially to play it. His time here on the field should be with no regrets. He certainly left it all out there and did everything he could for this team, and I know he’ll continue to do so.”

On Dye’s importance to the culture shift in the program

“Tremendously important. I’d say important for the culture but really important to the competitive nature, the way we practice, the energy, the competitiveness, the physicality, and the toughness. He was one of the key cogs in this team making some real progress here. I think we all know that was something that had to happen here, and he was a central figure in that. His presence on the field, his presence on the practice field, all of that, it got everybody going. He is an infectious leader and an infectious personality.”

On WR Brenden Rice and RB Austin Jones

“Rice’s (touchdown) was a really good play. Caleb made a really nice throw. It was just aggressive play through the ball by Brendan. It was good to see him make that play. It kind of got us going. That along with the two turnovers defensively really got us going. Austin Jones was tremendous. He’s been right there the whole way and he’s had some big games, especially early in the year, and then Travis kind of kind of separated himself a little bit and took over. What a great guy we have to turn to in Austin. I was really excited to see the way Raleek (Brown) and Darwin (Barlow) both played tonight. They both made some really fantastic runs and the depth of that room will be tested, and we have three guys in there that’ll be ready to go.”

On DL Tuli Tuipulotu

“He’s been so important to what we’ve been doing. He affects the passer in a really unique way, and I think he’s really bought into what we’re doing schematically, and I think he’s really improved as a player. His versatility has really shown itself and he’s been consistent for us. We’ve talked to our guys about not just playing the game to be a placeholder, not just to do your job and be there, but actually when you get to that point where you’ve done your job and you’re in your gap or you made your blocker are you doing it with intent to really make a play every single time? And are you going to make it every time? No, but if you have that mentality, then when opportunity shows up, you’re ready to make it. And Tuli really embodies that for us. He’s just been steady, he’s been explosive. I know he doesn’t like to think of himself like this but everybody else in that locker looks to him as a leader by example, and he’s been a really strong leader for this football team and our defense.”

On the defensive performance

“Our defense played well. We affected the passer, which was huge. We did a really nice job on third down. We got a couple of turnovers. We played really well early in the football game. So I was proud of the defensive effort. We played like we expected we would play. Each game is its own journey. Now we get the chance to reset. We’ve got a little bit of a long week to adjust and reset and get ready to go play those guys across town.”