USC has taken the punishment for Desman Stephens II beyond the ejection he already received on Saturday.
The Trojans linebacker will also miss this week’s game against Washington after his targeting hit on Oregon quarterback Dante Moore, a play that ended with Moore being carted off the field at the Coliseum. Stephens lowered his shoulder into Moore as the quarterback was sliding to finish a scramble in the second quarter, and officials tossed him immediately.
Moore was hospitalized after the collision, but a later update said the injury was a concussion with no further damage. That leaves open the possibility of a return after Oregon’s bye week, with an October 10 comeback against UCLA still in play if he clears concussion protocol.
The fallout for Stephens grew even louder after the hit itself. While Moore remained on the turf, Stephens was seen celebrating on the sideline and high-fiving teammates, and that video spread quickly online. The reaction was immediate, and fans unloaded on his account until he locked his Instagram profile.
Saturday’s scene got messier still. A brawl broke out in the Coliseum stands while players were tangled on the field below, making it the second fan altercation at USC’s home stadium in as many games.
Stephens, a junior from Michigan, had started for USC all season in 2025 and had been known as a productive tackler before this game turned his name into the center of national criticism. The suspension now adds another layer of punishment to a play that drew backlash from players, coaches and analysts outside the program.
Oregon backup Dylan Raiola, who came in and helped rally the Ducks to the win, said the team’s response was shaped by seeing Moore go down. The Ducks still finished off a 41-27 victory, but the hit on Moore overshadowed the result and left Stephens facing the cost of one ugly moment.
In Other News...
Miami Fans Can't Stop Talking About This Wild Hard Rock Photo
Miamis rout of Central Michigan was the kind of afternoon that gave Hurricanes fans plenty to enjoy at Hard Rock Stadium, from a 52-3 final to another efficient performance from quarterback Darian Mensah. He completed 23 of 27 passes for 338 yards and three touchdowns, added a rushing score, and had Malachi Toney giving the offense another big-play element with 120 receiving yards and a touchdown.
Yet one of the most talked-about moments from the day had nothing to do with the box score. A photo of a couple in matching custom jerseys with a viral message spread quickly across social media during the game, turning into the sort of sideline-adjacent image that gets shared almost as fast as touchdowns in a blowout like this. For a fan base already locked in on Miamis early-season rhythm, it was a reminder that the Hurricanes home atmosphere can produce its own side stories. [Read more 🡒]
Miami May Have Found A Better O-Line Mix At Last
Miamis offensive line had been one of the teams lingering questions early in the season, but the group looked far more settled against Central Michigan with a rotation that featured true freshman Ben Congdon and redshirt junior Jamal Meriweather at guard. The mix gave the Hurricanes a different look inside, and the results were hard to ignore, especially after a stretch in which finding the right five had been a work in progress.
According to Pro Football Focus, Miami allowed only two quarterback pressures and posted its best pass-blocking and run-blocking grades of the season. The run game also had more room to breathe, averaging 3.75 yards before contact per carry, which suggests the line may finally be finding a combination that gives the offense a little more balance moving forward. [Read more 🡒]
Miami Suddenly Has A Real RB2 Debate Before Clemson
Chris Wheatley-Humphrey made the most of a bigger opportunity against Central Michigan, topping 100 rushing yards on 11 carries and finding the end zone as Miami kept its backfield fresh for the bigger test ahead. With Mark Fletcher Jr. rested by design, the Hurricanes got a cleaner look at the rest of the room, and Wheatley-Humphrey did exactly what a backup is supposed to do when the door opens.
Now the conversation around Miamis backfield has shifted from simple depth to a real RB2 battle heading into Clemson. Mario Cristobal has already signaled that the staff expects a committee approach with Wheatley-Humphrey, Girard Pringle and Jordan Lyle all in the mix, which means the next few practices should matter as much as anything that happened on Saturday. For a team that wants to lean on its run game in a big ACC matchup, sorting out who gets the next touches is suddenly one of the more interesting personnel questions on the roster. [Read more 🡒]