Oregon QB Dante Moore taken off on stretcher after cheap shot

No. 20 Oregon Ducks quarterback Dante Moore had to be taken off the field on a stretcher on Saturday evening following a devastating cheap shot in the first half of their game against No. 12 USC.

As Moore was sliding to the ground during a run, he was hit in the head by USC's Desman Stephens II.

It ignited an ugly scene as Oregon players tried to fight a celebrating Stephens, all while Moore lay motionless on the ground.

Stephens was ejected from the game for targeting. 

Oregon quarterback Dante Moore removed from game on stretcher

Moore remained on the ground for nearly 10 minutes before being loaded onto a stretcher and put into an ambulance. According to the NBC broadcast, Moore was able to move his fingers and feet. He was also able to rotate his arms. 

Moore has been taken to L.A. General County Hospital, according to the broadcast.

Everything about it is a crushing scene for Moore and Oregon.

The obvious priority is Moore's health.

He is also one of the best players in college football, and the focal point of an Oregon team that is hoping to compete for a national championship this season.

Adding another layer to this is the reality that Moore had a chance to go to the NFL in the 2026 draft, where he would have almost certainly been the No. 2 overall pick. He passed on that opportunity to return to Oregon for one more season. It is far too premature to speculate on what happens next for him, but there was always going to be a risk in making that decision. Injury was the biggest part of that risk. 

Moore was replaced on Saturday by Dylan Raiola, an offseason transfer from Nebraska.