Oregon’s day at the Coliseum turned tense in a hurry Saturday when quarterback Dante Moore was carted off after a hard hit while sliding against USC.
The play came with 10:05 left in the second quarter, when Moore tucked the ball and scrambled straight up the middle for 10 yards to the USC 13-yard line. As he started to slide, USC linebacker Desman Stephens II came in and appeared to hit Moore in the head with his shoulder. Moore went down right away and stayed on the turf while Oregon players gathered around him and medical staff rushed in.
Officials threw a targeting flag on Stephens II on the spot, then reviewed the play and upheld the call. Stephens II was ejected, and the penalty gave Oregon an automatic first down, moving the Ducks from the USC 13 to the USC 7. The crowd inside the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum responded with loud boos as Moore continued to be treated.
Moore was eventually put on a stretcher, lifted onto a cart and taken toward an ambulance that had been brought into the tunnel. NBC later reported that he was being taken to LA General County Hospital for further evaluation.
The NCAA’s targeting rule was at the center of the ruling. A sliding quarterback is treated as a defenseless player, and the rule bars forcible contact to the head or neck area of that opponent. On this play, Moore was considered defenseless as he went down.
Before the injury, the snap had gone well for Oregon. Moore’s run moved the Ducks into the red zone, and the official play-by-play credited him with the first down.
Moore entered the game with plenty of buzz around him. Through three games, he had completed 61 of 89 passes for 849 yards, nine touchdowns and no interceptions. He also came into the USC matchup on preseason watch lists for the Walter Camp Player of the Year, Maxwell Award, Davey O’Brien Award and Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award.
He had been sharp before leaving, too, completing 8 of 10 passes for 77 yards.
Now Oregon waits for more medical information before it knows what comes next for its starter. Moore had been eligible to enter the 2026 NFL Draft after putting himself among the top quarterback prospects in the country, but he chose to return to Oregon for another season. CBS Sports had him ranked as its No. 2 overall NFL Draft prospect before that decision.
Dylan Raiola took over after Moore left, giving Oregon a backup with starting experience from his time at Nebraska. Raiola transferred to Oregon after two seasons with the Cornhuskers and entered the 2026 season as Moore’s backup. He also made a strong impression in Oregon’s 84-0 win over Portland State, going 11 for 11 for 124 yards and three touchdowns in his Oregon debut.
Raiola made an immediate impact on the next snap after Moore exited, hitting wide receiver Evan Stewart for a touchdown. After that score, Raiola held up the number five in Moore’s honor.
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