Oregon quarterback Dante Moore, a potential first overall pick in the 2027 NFL draft, took a brutal hit to his head while sliding during today’s game against USC and appeared to be unconscious on the field.
Moore ran for 10 yards on second-and-9 in the second quarter and then went into a feet-first slide. After Moore’s knee hit the ground, USC’s Desmond Stephens drove his shoulder into Moore’s head, slamming the back of Moore’s head into the ground. Moore immediately exhibited the fencing response that frequently comes with serious head trauma.
Moore was on the ground for several minutes before he was placed on a stretcher and carted to an ambulance. He was moving his hands and feet.
Stephens was called for targeting and ejected from the game, and a brawl nearly broke out as several Oregon players went after him and players on both teams began to leave the sideline, although the officials and coaches were able to get things calmed down before it got out of hand.
Moore is one of the most talented quarterbacks in college football and was expected to be a first-round pick this year if he had turned pro. Instead, he decided to stay one more year at Oregon, and now the immediate concern is as much about his health as about his football future.
