Oregon QB Moore concussed on ejected hit; Raiola leads Ducks past USC — SkimNews
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- Dante Moore suffered a concussion on a late hit by USC linebacker Desman Stephens II early in the second quarter of Oregon's 41-27 win Saturday night and was carted off to Los Angeles General Medical Center.
- Stephens II was ejected for the hit and both teams drew personal fouls in the post-play melee after he celebrated; his Instagram went private amid fan backlash while his X account stayed public as of Sunday morning.
- Moore is expected to enter concussion protocol with no return timetable, though sources told CBS Sports he is expected back at some point this season; coach Dan Lanning said he 'has the ability to move' and is 'in recovery.'
- Dylan Raiola, the Nebraska transfer with two years of starting experience, relieved Moore and delivered 270 yards across four second-half touchdown drives, including a go-ahead 29-yard pass to Dakorien Moore with 8:35 left.
- Lanning called the hit 'disgusting' and 'as clear as day targeting,' led a sideline team prayer, and said he tried to settle his players; multiple Oregon players called the hit 'dirty' and said they believed it was intentional.
- Lincoln Riley addressed Stephens remaining on the USC sideline after his ejection by saying, 'Why (was he out there)? Because he's on our football team,' and opened his postgame by wishing Moore a 'speedy recovery.'
- The win was Oregon's fifth straight over USC and carried personal stakes for Raiola, who told reporters his season ended with a broken leg against the Trojans last fall.
Why it matters: Oregon's Pac-12/Big Ten title trajectory now runs through a backup quarterback for however long Moore remains in protocol, and Raiola showed enough — 270 second-half yards and a clutch go-ahead TD — to suggest the Ducks can absorb the loss. USC, meanwhile, faces scrutiny over Stephens' targeting hit, the sideline celebration, and a coach who defended the ejected player's sideline presence as a roster matter rather than a discipline one.
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