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Lincoln Riley 6-word reason why Desman Stephens stayed on sideline after Dante Moore hit

Following Oregon's 41-27 victory over USC on Saturday night, discussions centered on a controversial hit by linebacker Desman Stephens against Ducks quarterback Dante Moore. Stephens was ejected following the incident, which resulted in Moore being transported to a hospital where he was reported to have movement.

Despite criticism regarding his reaction on the field, Stephens remained on the bench for the second half.

When questioned about why the linebacker was not sent to the locker room after the ejection, Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley offered a succinct explanation. Riley stated that the player stayed on the bench simply because he is a member of the squad.

Under NCAA regulations adopted in 2021, ejected players are permitted to remain on the sidelines rather than being forced to isolate in the locker room.

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