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Oregon QB Dante Moore Carted Off After Brutal Hit
Confirmed
In Short: Oregon's star quarterback Dante Moore was carted off the field on a stretcher after taking a violent hit to the head during a game against USC. The incident occurred in the second quarter when Moore was hit by USC linebacker Desman Stephens II while sliding for a first down.
Moore was motionless on the field for several minutes as medical staff tended to him. He was seen moving his extremities and rotating his arms as he was stabilized and loaded onto a backboard.
Stephens was ejected from the game for targeting. Moore's teammates gathered around him before he was carted off the field and into a waiting ambulance.
The injury occurred with 10:05 remaining in the second quarter. Moore had been scrambling up the middle for a first down when Stephens dove at him, making contact around the head and neck area.
Moore's injury is a significant blow to Oregon's hopes of a run to the College Football Playoff and a possible national title. He had been a potential first-round pick in the 2027 NFL Draft and had returned to Oregon for his senior season.
With Moore carted off, transfer quarterback Dylan Raiola took over the Oregon offense. Raiola had previously played at Nebraska and was expected to back up Moore this season before taking over in 2027.
Fans and analysts expressed concern over Moore's well-being, with some calling it one of the scariest injuries of the 2026 season.
Medical personnel immediately attended to Moore, and he was placed on a stretcher before being carted off the field. As of the latest reports, Oregon had not announced a specific diagnosis or provided a timetable for his return.
What this adds
While Stephens was ejected for targeting, the severity of Moore's injury underscores the need for stricter enforcement of player safety rules.
What's confirmed
- Moore was motionless on the field for several minutes as medical staff tended to him. He was seen moving his extremities and rotating his arms as he was stabilized and loaded onto a backboard.
- Stephens was ejected from the game for targeting. Moore's teammates gathered around him before he was carted off the field and into a waiting ambulance.
- The injury occurred with 10:05 remaining in the second quarter. Moore had been scrambling up the middle for a first down when Stephens dove at him, making contact around the head and neck area.
- Moore's injury is a significant blow to Oregon's hopes of a run to the College Football Playoff and a possible national title. He had been a potential first-round pick in the 2027 NFL Draft and had returned to Oregon for his senior season.
- With Moore carted off, transfer quarterback Dylan Raiola took over the Oregon offense. Raiola had previously played at Nebraska and was expected to back up Moore this season before taking over in 2027.
- Fans and analysts expressed concern over Moore's well-being, with some calling it one of the scariest injuries of the 2026 season.
- Medical personnel immediately attended to Moore, and he was placed on a stretcher before being carted off the field. As of the latest reports, Oregon had not announced a specific diagnosis or provided a timetable for his return.
What's still developing
- Moore was scrambling for a first down and went into his slide when USC linebacker Desman Stephens II launched into his head, seemingly knocking Moore out as he went into a fencing reaction immediately after getting hit.
- Raiola started the last two seasons at Nebraska before transferring to Oregon this offseason.
- Raiola started for two seasons at Nebraska, and while he was mercurial in his time with the Huskers, he is still a starting-caliber quarterback in the Big Ten, and his decision to transfer to Oregon knowing he'd likely spend a year backing up Moore before taking over in 2027 is now a huge boost for the Ducks in 2026.
- A scary moment as Oregon QB Dante Moore is knocked out by a USC defender.
- While we await official word on specifics of Moore's injury and how long he may be out, the Ducks will at minimum have to navigate a tough road environment against USC without their star quarterback.
- Oregon quarterback Dante Moore takes a brutal hit from USC's Desman Stephens II on Satuday at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. (USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect) However, about five minutes into the second quarter, Moore found some space and took off downfield, hoping to secure a first down.
- While the specifics of Moore's injury have not been revealed, it was reported on the NBC Sports broadcast of the game that Moore was able to move his hands and feet and managed to rotate his arms while being carted off.
- NFL Hall of Famer and former Chicago Bears linebacker defends Caleb Williams from backlash over his reaction to a hamstring injury, but says the incident "could have been handled different." A great day of college football took a scary turn on Saturday night when Oregon Ducks quarterback Dante Moore needed to be taken off the field on a cart after taking a brutal hit to the head.
- The #20 Oregon Ducks and #12 USC Trojans are facing off in a massive Big Ten contest this weekend.
- Reports later indicated that an ambulance was waiting to transport him for further evaluation.
- However, early in the game Oregon’s star quarterback was knocked out of the game after a scary hit.
- Oregon and USC faced off Saturday night, reviving an old Pac-12 rivalry between two powerhouse programs now in the Big Ten.