USC has added another layer of punishment for Desman Stephens II after his hit on Oregon quarterback Dante Moore, ruling the linebacker out for Saturday’s game against Washington.
Stephens was already ejected in the second quarter at the Coliseum after lowering his shoulder into Moore as the quarterback slid to finish a scramble. Officials called targeting on the play, and Moore was eventually carted off the field by medical staff. He was hospitalized, though 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.
The suspension is not the only fallout for Stephens. USC also took the extra step of sitting him for the Washington game, days after he drew more attention for celebrating on the sideline while Moore was still down on the turf. Video showed Stephens high-fiving teammates, and the clip spread quickly online as criticism of the hit intensified.
The reaction was immediate and ugly. Fans hit Stephens’ account with angry messages soon after the celebration video circulated, and he eventually locked his Instagram profile to cut off the harassment.
Saturday’s scene turned messy in more ways than one. Along with the hit and the aftermath, a brawl broke out in the Coliseum stands as players were tangled on the field below. It was the second fan altercation at USC’s home stadium in as many games, adding another bad look to a rough day for the program.
Stephens, a junior from Michigan, had started for USC all season and had earned a reputation as a productive tackler before this play changed the conversation around him. The suspension now gives the incident a concrete cost, beyond the national criticism that followed from players, coaches and analysts outside the program.
Moore’s recovery timeline points toward Oregon’s next game after the bye, with an October 10 return against UCLA possible if he clears concussion protocol in time. Oregon backup Dylan Raiola came in and helped rally the Ducks to the win, and credited the team’s response to seeing Moore go down.
The hit overshadowed Oregon’s 41-27 win and left Stephens at the center of a national conversation about dirty hits.
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Oregon Fans Are Livid Over Chris Simms After Dante Moore Hit
The fallout from USCs hit on Oregon quarterback Dante Moore kept spilling beyond the field, even as the game itself moved on. Desman Stephens IIs collision with Moore became one of the biggest talking points of the matchup, especially after Moore was hospitalized, and the sequence quickly turned into a broader debate about the hit and how it should be judged.
Chris Simms added fuel to that argument during a halftime segment, saying Moore appeared to slide late and left Stephens in a tough spot. That defense drew a loud reaction from Oregon fans on social media, who were already raw from seeing their quarterback go down and were quick to push back on any suggestion that the USC linebacker should be viewed more sympathetically. [Read more 🡒]
USCs Desman Stephens Decision Just Raised The Stakes For Everyone
Desman Stephens IIs night against Oregon ended with an ejection after a targeting call on quarterback Dante Moore, and the fallout kept growing after the game. Moore suffered a concussion and was hospitalized, while USC later announced Stephens will also miss the following game against Washington as part of a suspension.
The Trojans are now dealing with the broader edge of a physical game that crossed into discipline, and Oregon is left monitoring Moores recovery while Dylan Raiola has kept the offense moving in his absence. The timing adds another layer here, because Moores possible return lines up with Oregons bye week, leaving this situation hanging over both programs for the next stretch. [Read more 🡒]
Ole Miss Just Got A Harsh Reminder About The Polls
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The top end stayed steady with Texas still No. 1, but the movement behind it was impossible to miss, with Florida climbing to No. 8 and several teams tumbling out entirely, including Louisville, Texas A&M, Washington and Oklahoma. For USC, it is a reminder that a couple of weekends like this can change the conversation fast, and that even a ranked team can find itself looking up at a tighter, less forgiving field. [Read more 🡒]