On Sunday morning, USC made the decision to suspend linebacker Desman Stephens II for one game following a controversial hit and the subsequent celebration he exhibited after hitting Oregon quarterback Dante Moore.
Stephens will sit out the upcoming game against Washington next weekend at the LA Memorial Coliseum. This comes after he struck Moore with a forearm during the second quarter on Saturday while Moore was attempting to slide, resulting in Moore laying motionless on the field for an extended period.
After the hit, Stephens was seen celebrating with teammates, smiling, and accepting their congratulations on the sideline. He received a targeting call and was ejected from the game.
USC coach Lincoln Riley commented on the incident, stating, “Desman’s actions in last night’s game are unacceptable and do not represent USC football nor his character.” He continued, “He recognizes his mistake, acknowledges the repercussions, and will learn from this experience. The entire Trojan Family hopes for Dante’s swift and complete recovery, and we send our best wishes to him and his family.”
In a separate statement, Stephens expressed remorse for his behavior during the Trojans’ 41–27 defeat to the Ducks. He acknowledged, “Seeing an injured player is a serious matter, and my reaction afterward was entirely inappropriate. There’s simply no excuse for my behavior while another player was receiving medical care.”
Stephens took full accountability for his actions, reiterating, “That’s not the kind of person or teammate I aspire to be, and I intend to learn from this.” He extended his apologies to Moore, his family, and all who witnessed his reaction, expressing, “I hope he recovers quickly.”
After the game, Oregon coach Dan Lanning reported that Moore, who was taken to a hospital, had regained some mobility. Following this incident, USC dropped six places to No. 18 in the Associated Press poll that was released on Sunday.
