Oregon QB Dante Moore Carted Off After Hit

Oregon quarterback Dante Moore was treated on the field for several minutes, placed in a neck brace, stretchered off and taken by ambulance to Los Angeles General Medical Center after USC linebacker Desman Stephens II hit him in the second quarter of the No. 20 Oregon vs No. 12 USC game on Sept. 26, 2026 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Moore had scrambled 11 yards to the USC 12 and slid to give himself up when the contact occurred; Stephens was ejected for targeting. Players shoved and jawed, drawing unsportsmanlike conduct penalties on both teams. The NBC broadcast reported movement in Moore's arms. Dylan Raiola replaced him, held up Moore's No. 5 as Oregon took a 10-7 lead. Moore was 8-of-10 for 77 yards before exiting and had thrown for 849 yards with 9 touchdowns and no interceptions over three games after returning for 2026 on Jan. 14. Sources describe the contact variously as a forearm to the head, helmet-to-helmet, or a hit above the shoulders to the head and chest. Oregon had not announced a diagnosis or the extent of the injury.