Photo via Yahoo Sports

Who hit Dante Moore? USC defender slammed for targeting Oregon QB, celebrating hit

During a heated contest on Saturday night, Oregon quarterback Dante Moore suffered a severe helmet-to-helmet collision when USC linebacker Desman Stephens II lowered his shoulder into Moore as the signal-caller was sliding at the conclusion of a run. The dangerous hit rendered Moore motionless on the turf for several minutes before medical personnel loaded him onto a stretcher and into an ambulance, though he was observed moving his extremities while departing the field.

Stephens was immediately ejected from the game for targeting. The incident triggered a near-melee on the field as frustrated Oregon players and coaches rushed to defend their teammate, with Ducks coach Dan Lanning among those angrily confronting opponents.

While medical staff attended to the injured quarterback, television cameras caught Stephens celebrating the blow and interacting jovially with teammates, behavior that drew heavy backlash across social media. Stephens, a junior defensive starter for Lincoln Riley's squad, had previously accumulated 89 tackles, three tackles for loss, and one forced fumble.

Up nextCollege Football· 11h ago

Does Oregon Play Today? Ducks’ Football Schedule Follows Dante Moore Injury