USC’s 55-17 win over Colorado Friday night didn’t come without a heavy toll. In the victory, the Trojans lost their star running back Travis Dye to a season-ending injury.

Coach Lincoln Riley revealed after the game that Dye is not expected to play again the rest of the season. Riley said the injury isn’t believed to be serious enough to impact a future career at the next level, but Dye’s final season of college ball is over.

Dye crumpled to the turf late in the second quarter Friday after a 4-yard gain on third-and-2. The senior running back had his left leg placed in an air cast and had to be carted off the field.

He gave the crowd at the L.A. Coliseum a thumbs up as he left the field, but there was obvious concern over the injury. The entire USC team huddled around Dye as he was placed on the team cart to exit the field. Several Colorado players were nearby to give their well wishes as well.

A transfer into the program from Oregon this offseason, Dye joined Riley in Los Angeles hoping to not only serve as a productive player out of the backfield, but also provide some leadership for a group that was largely brought together via the transfer portal this offseason.

Dye immediately proved himself invaluable. He’s been the heart of the team most weeks, stepping into the role of vocal a leader within the locker room.

“We aren’t where we are now without him,” Riley told reporters after the game.

He was also incredibly consistent on the field. Dye will finish the campaign with 884 yards and nine touchdowns on the ground this season. He averaged more than 6 yards a carry and had scored in eight straight games entering Friday night’s contest with the Buffs. Dye had nine carries for 26 yards before exiting.

In his four years at Oregon (2018-21), Dye appeared in 48 games with 19 starts, ran for 3,111 yards (fifth-most in school history) and 21 touchdowns. He added another 83 receptions for 869 yards and eight scores in the pass game.

In his absence, USC will likely look to Austin Jones and freshman Raleek Brown. Jones had 11 carries for 74 yards against Colorado, as well as four catches for another 39 yards and a touchdown. Brown had seven carries for 52 yards to go with two receptions for 38 yards and a score.

Darwin Barlow should also get some run. He finished Friday’s game with five carries for 41 yards and a touchdown, as well as two receptions for 31 yards.

USC is 9-1 and will head to No. 12 UCLA next Saturday.