USC has added another punishment for Desman Stephens II after his hit on Oregon quarterback Dante Moore sent the Ducks’ starter out of Saturday’s game at the Coliseum.
The linebacker was already tossed for targeting in the second quarter after lowering his shoulder into Moore as the quarterback slid to finish a scramble. Moore was later carted off the field and taken to the hospital. A later update said the injury was a concussion with no further damage, leaving open the possibility that he could return after Oregon’s bye week.
Now Stephens will also miss Saturday’s game against Washington, USC announced.
The situation got uglier after the play. Stephens was seen celebrating on the sideline while Moore remained on the turf, and video of him high-fiving teammates spread quickly. That moment only intensified the reaction to a hit that had already drawn heavy criticism.
The fallout extended beyond the field, too. Fans flooded Stephens’ account with angry messages after the celebration clip circulated, and he eventually locked his Instagram profile to cut off the harassment.
Saturday wasn’t short on chaos elsewhere in the stadium. A brawl also broke out in the Coliseum stands as players were tangled up on the field, marking the second fan altercation at USC’s home stadium in as many games.
Stephens, a junior from Michigan, had started for USC throughout the 2025 season and had built a reputation as a productive tackler before this play changed the conversation around him. The suspension now adds another consequence to a moment that overshadowed Oregon’s 41-27 win and put Stephens at the center of a national debate over dirty hits.
For Oregon, backup Dylan Raiola came in and helped rally the Ducks to the victory, while Moore’s recovery points toward a possible October 10 return against UCLA if he clears concussion protocol in time.
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