USC's Running Back Room: Resilience, Reinforcements, and One More Ride in San Antonio
USC has quietly built a reputation for turning the transfer portal into a pipeline of productive running backs, and that trend didn’t slow down in 2025. From the final days of Clay Helton’s tenure through Lincoln Riley’s current run, the Trojans have leaned heavily on transfer talent to power their ground game. This year was shaping up to be more of the same-until injuries forced USC to dig deeper into its depth chart.
In the Trojans’ win over Michigan, both Waymond Jordan and Eli Sanders went down, dealing a major blow to what had been a dynamic and balanced rushing attack. But instead of folding, USC found an unlikely hero in walk-on King Miller. The junior stepped in and didn’t just fill the gap-he anchored the backfield with poise and production that defied expectations.
Miller finished the regular season with 749 yards on 114 carries, averaging a robust 6.6 yards per tote and punching in five touchdowns. That’s not just solid-it’s efficient, explosive football.
His emergence helped USC maintain a strong ground game, averaging 5.3 yards per carry as a team. That mark tied them with Ohio for 17th-best in the FBS and speaks volumes about the depth and resilience of the unit.
More importantly, that rushing success wasn’t just padding the stat sheet-it was a key ingredient in USC’s offensive identity. Lincoln Riley’s offense finished as the No. 2 team in OFEI scoring efficiency nationally, and balance was a big reason why. With the passing game drawing plenty of attention, the Trojans' ability to stay dangerous on the ground kept defenses honest and opened up the full playbook.
Now, USC gets one final showcase in the 2025 season: the Valero Alamo Bowl against TCU on December 30 (6:00 p.m. PST, ESPN). It’s a chance for the Trojans to put a bow on a season filled with twists, growth, and gritty performances-and for the running back room, it’s a spotlight opportunity to show just how far they’ve come.
Looking ahead, reinforcements are on the way. The running back room is expected to be bolstered not just for the bowl game, but heading into 2026 as well. And while USC hasn’t formally announced which players are returning, the broader roster picture is starting to take shape.
Here are the Trojans who have yet to be officially confirmed as returning for next season:
- QB: Husan Longstreet
- TE: Joey Olsen, Carson Tabaracci
- OL: Aaron Dunn, Alex Payne, Elijah Paige, Alani Noa, Elijah Vaikona
- DL: Jide Abasiri
- LB: Ta'Mere Robinson
- DB: Alex Graham, James Johnson
- ATH: Caden Chittenden
As for the running back room, the Alamo Bowl could serve as both a finale and a preview. Between Miller’s emergence, potential returns from injury, and incoming talent, USC’s backfield looks like it’s setting up to be a strength again in 2026.
The Trojans have one more game to play, and one more chance to show what this offense can do when it’s firing on all cylinders-even when the depth chart gets tested. If recent history is any indication, don’t be surprised if another name steps up in San Antonio. That's just how this USC backfield seems to operate.