Oregon quarterback Dante Moore was taken off the field by ambulance during a Big Ten matchup against USC after a late hit to the head by Trojans linebacker Desman Stephens II on Saturday, September 26, 2026, in Los Angeles.
Desman Stephens II Ejected Following Hit on Dante Moore
The incident occurred early in the second quarter at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum as Moore scrambled inside USC territory. While attempting to slide to complete an 11-yard run to the USC 12-yard line, Moore took a hard tackle when Stephens came in low, striking the quarterback in the head and chest with his shoulder.
Moore’s head snapped back against the turf, leaving him motionless on the field as support staff and teammates rushed to his aid. The play triggered a prolonged on-field scuffle between players from both teams, resulting in unsportsmanlike conduct penalties for each side. Stephens was assessed a targeting penalty and ejected from the game.
Medical Transport and Postgame Health Updates
The game was delayed for approximately 15 minutes as medical personnel treated Moore on the field. Teammates gathered around a stretcher before it was loaded into an ambulance waiting at the base of the Coliseum tunnel. Media broadcasts showed Moore moving both of his hands while strapped to the stretcher.
Moore was transferred to nearby Los Angeles General County Hospital for a thorough medical evaluation. A team spokesperson confirmed that Moore had movement in all of his extremities. Oregon head coach Dan Lanning provided an encouraging update following his team’s 41-27 victory.
He’s in recovery, so I’m not going to speak too soon.
Dan Lanning, Oregon head coach, via ESPN
He has the ability to move. So we continue to assess him,
Lanning added regarding the quarterback’s status.
Reactions to On-Field Antics and Sideline Return
Criticism quickly mounted over Stephens’ behavior following the tackle. As players traded shoves, Stephens was captured on the television broadcast smiling and high-fiving teammates on his way back to the sideline. Analysts during NBC’s halftime broadcast condemned the behavior, with Joshua Perry calling the antics inappropriate
and Chris Simms labeling it a bad look for USC
after seeing players dapping Stephens up on the bench.
Controversy grew further in the second half when Stephens returned to the USC sideline. When questioned by reporters after the final whistle about why the disqualified player was permitted back on the bench area, USC head coach Lincoln Riley responded, Because he’s on our football team.
While NCAA rules permit disqualified players to remain on the sidelines—drawing a distinction from ejected players who must leave entirely—observers argued the optics were tone-deaf. NBC reporter Nicole Auerbach suggested that the Big Ten conference should review the sequence for potential supplementary discipline.
How Oregon Rallied Behind Backup Dylan Raiola
Following Moore’s exit, Nebraska transfer Dylan Raiola stepped in at quarterback for the Ducks. Raiola quickly made an impact, throwing a touchdown pass to Evan Stewart on his second snap to push Oregon ahead 10-7.
But at the same time, we knew that it was our brother, and we were gonna fight for him,
Raiola said.
Lanning gathered his squad for a prayer on the field during the delay, urging his players to channel their emotions through controlled aggression rather than retaliation. Cornerback Brandon Finney Jr. noted that the incident united an already tight-knit roster, while running back Dierre Hill Jr. remarked that the hit served as motivation for the remainder of the contest.
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