NBC rules analyst Terry McAulay breaks down the brutal hit on Oregon star QB Dante Moore

Oregon Ducks quarterback Dante Moore left Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in an ambulance after taking a brutal hit from USC linebacker Desman Stephens while attempting to slide with the ball.

With Oregon driving in USC territory, Moore dropped back and looked for an open receiver. Finding nothing, he tucked and ran for the first down, beginning his slide shortly after making the line to gain. Stephens dove at Moore, pretty clearly after he had started his slide, making hard contact with Moore’s helmet and slamming his head into the ground. It’s a tough watch in real time. Stephens was flagged for targeting.

Watching the replay, NBC rules analyst Terry McAulay said it was about as clear a case of targeting as you will see.

“As soon as he starts his slide, he’s defenseless,” McAulay explained. “The defender leads with his shoulder and makes forceful contact to the head-neck area with his shoulder. This is, no question about it, this is targeting.”

Additionally, a scuffle that broke out in the aftermath of the hit on Moore resulted in every player on the field getting hit with an unsportsmanlike penalty, meaning that one more unsportsmanlike offense would lead to an ejection.

NBC rules analyst Terry McAulay breaks down the brutal hit on Oregon star QB Dante Moore delivered by USC’s Desman Stephens (who was shown celebrating the play as Moore was still down on the field).

The scene also resulted in unsportsmanlike conduct on both teams/every player. pic.twitter.com/OTE0U1KG7Q

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) September 27, 2026

As the game was set to get back underway, the ambulance carrying Moore was still making its way out of the stadium, resulting in a pretty jarring image on the broadcast— Oregon and USC on the field ready to get back to playing, but instead milling around a bit as the ambulance had yet to exit.

NBC’s Noah Eagle and Todd Blackledge filled the time by going through Moore’s accolades and talking about the process of his backup Dylan Raiola transferring from Nebraska to Oregon in the offseason.

The horrible scene as Oregon QB Dante Moore is carted off and taken away in an ambulance at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

Noah Eagle and Todd Blackledge on the call for NBC. https://t.co/Do9vWFEsvc pic.twitter.com/MpU82lMf47

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) September 27, 2026

The Ducks would punch in the touchdown to finish out the drive, with Raiola throwing up five fingers in honor of his teammate after the score.

Dylan Raiola and Evan Stewart threw up 5s after scoring for @oregonfootball teammate Dante Moore, who left the game earlier with an injury. pic.twitter.com/9yHxbrDVZo

— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) September 27, 2026

Oregon took a 13–10 lead into halftime. A report from NBC during the broadcast noted that Moore was still in the hospital, but he had feeling in all of his extremities.