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Oregon QB Moore Injured in Brutal Hit
Confirmed
In Short: Oregon quarterback Dante Moore was carted off the field and taken to a local hospital after a brutal hit by USC linebacker Desman Stephens II during Saturday's matchup.
Moore was attempting to slide for a first down when Stephens hit him above the shoulders, causing Moore to go down immediately.
Moore remained on the ground for an extended period as the athletic training staff tended to him.
He was eventually placed on a backboard and carted off the field, taken to Los Angeles General County Hospital for further evaluation.
Moore was able to move his extremities and rotate his arms while being carted off, according to NBC Sports.
Oregon's backup quarterback, Dylan Raiola, filled in for Moore and threw for 289 yards and two touchdowns, leading the Ducks to a 41-27 victory over USC.
Oregon head coach Dan Lanning expressed displeasure with the hit and called his team for a prayer after Moore's departure.
Lanning praised USC coach Lincoln Riley for inquiring about Moore's health postgame.
The Ducks will now have to navigate the rest of the season without their star quarterback, pending further evaluation of Moore's injury.
What this adds
The incident highlights the ongoing challenges in eliminating dangerous hits from college football.
Specifics of Moore's injury have not been officially released, and the extent of his recovery time remains unclear.
Background
Oregon quarterback Dante Moore was carted off the field and taken to the hospital after a late hit by USC linebacker Desman Stephens II during Saturday's game.
What's confirmed
- Moore was attempting to slide for a first down when Stephens hit him above the shoulders, causing Moore to go down immediately.
- Moore remained on the ground for an extended period as the athletic training staff tended to him.
- He was eventually placed on a backboard and carted off the field, taken to Los Angeles General County Hospital for further evaluation.
- Moore was able to move his extremities and rotate his arms while being carted off, according to NBC Sports.
- Oregon's backup quarterback, Dylan Raiola, filled in for Moore and threw for 289 yards and two touchdowns, leading the Ducks to a 41-27 victory over USC.
- Oregon head coach Dan Lanning expressed displeasure with the hit and called his team for a prayer after Moore's departure.
- Lanning praised USC coach Lincoln Riley for inquiring about Moore's health postgame.
- The Ducks will now have to navigate the rest of the season without their star quarterback, pending further evaluation of Moore's injury.
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.
- NBC reported that Moore had his eyes closed as he was stabilized and loaded onto the board, but was moving his extremities and rotating his arms.
- 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.
- Moore returned to Oregon for his senior season, forgoing the opportunity to be a high first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft to try and lead the Ducks to a national title.
- Moore came into the season as a potential QB1 in the 2027 NFL Draft, and despite an early loss to Oklahoma State, Oregon still maintained hopes of a run to the College Football Playoff and a possible national title.
- Riley began his news conference by saying he hoped Moore was doing OK, and Lanning complimented Riley's postgame inquiry into Moore's health.
- 12 USC that was already jam-packed with emotion and saddled with plenty of stakes, Oregon star quarterback Dante Moore was carted off the field and taken by an ambulance after a late hit by USC linebacker Desman Stephens II.
- 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.
- Stephens was called for targeting on the play and ejected from the game, but the bigger concern was obviously Moore's well-being.
- 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.