Overview
- Oregon quarterback Dante Moore was struck in the head while sliding in the second quarter on Saturday, remained on the turf for several minutes, was placed in a neck brace, stretchered to a waiting ambulance and taken to L.A. General Medical Center.
- USC linebacker Desman Stephens II was flagged for targeting, immediately ejected from the game and faces further review under NCAA targeting procedures.
- NBC rules analyst Terry McAulay and outside medical observers called the contact clear targeting and consistent with a concussion mechanism, while Oregon had not released an official diagnosis at the time of the reports.
- Backup Dylan Raiola entered for Moore and threw a touchdown on his second snap, a score that briefly shifted momentum as players from both teams received offsetting unsportsmanlike-conduct penalties after a heated on-field confrontation.
- The injury removes Oregon’s Heisman‑contending starter from the game and raises near-term questions about Moore’s availability, possible discipline for Stephens under the NCAA’s progressive targeting rules, and how Oregon will handle quarterback depth if Moore is sidelined.