Oregon Football: Travis Dye’s transfer to USC a massive gut-punch

After finishing with 1,000 yards in 2021, Oregon football star Travis Dye decided to enter the transfer portal. His new home is a gut-punch to Ducks fans.

Oregon’s backfield outlook got cleared up last week as Travis Dye shocked everyone and entered his name into the transfer portal.

Dye finished the 2021 season with over 1,000 rushing yards, filling in nicely as the workhorse back with CJ Verdell going down with a year-ending injury. He raised his NFL draft stock with a strong second half to the season and it looked as if he’d either go the pro route or return for one final season under the new coaching staff.

However, he decided to leave the program despite Dan Lanning stating that he wanted to make sure to retain all of the current players. It was a decision that stung the fanbase.

While everyone loved Dye, he probably felt just slightly undervalued and maybe the new coaching staff couldn’t promise him the lead back role — no one really knows.

Dye’s departure was a gut-punch because it left the backfield with just one healthy back in true freshman Byron Cardwell who had a solid first season in Eugene. Sean Dollars and Verdell (if he decides to return) both missed most of the year with injuries. What hurt, even more, was the school he decided to transfer to on Friday afternoon: USC.

Seeing him playing for another top team in the Pac-12 is going to hurt. It would have been much easier to see him go to a different conference, but after helping the Ducks contend for titles for years, he’ll be on the other side of the field competing against them. There’s a chance the Ducks could see him in the Pac-12 Championship next year.

This one hurts.