USC football did not cover itself in glory against the Oregon Ducks ... and that had nothing to do with the 41-27 loss to Dan Lanning's team on Saturday. Lincoln Riley watched his program lose face, not just a game. USC already stained itself when Desman Stephens made a dirty hit on Oregon quarterback Dante Moore and then, worst of all, celebrated the hit. This is not in dispute. Stephens taunted Oregon. He then took handshakes from other players. He was seen smiling. He showed zero contrition or remorse for what he did and wasn't the slightest bit bothered that another football player, another young athlete, had to be carted off the field (eventually taken to a local hospital).
We need to talk about this.
Desman Stephens must not play another down for USC football
Point-blank, Desman Stephens should be
dismissed from the USC football program. We can debate whether his hit crossed a line. Some will say Dante Moore slid late. I have personally seen later slides than that, and Stephens - to me - clearly could have pulled up and, at the very least, not leaned his shoulder into Moore's helmet. However, we can agree to disagree on the tardiness of the hit. What's truly unacceptable and non-negotiable is how Stephens reacted to the hit. That was appalling by any standard or measurement. When a player lacks any sense of perspective whatsoever, he doesn't belong in the program anymore. Every program should have some standards of basic human decency and appropriate conduct. Desman Stephens crossed every line, not just one or two.
Reflection on Lincoln Riley's program
Desman Stephens is a reflection of the larger program Lincoln Riley has built at USC. This is what happens when there's no accountability in the building. You can't keep lacking discipline and suddenly expect everything to fall into place. No, this was a revealing moment because while USC's players certainly aren't dirty as a collective, one guy lost all focus and any sense of boundaries. That Lincoln Riley allowed one of his main rotational players on defense to lose the plot to such an extent helps explain why USC football is stuck as a program.
Desman Stephens struggled last year
It's not as though Desman Stephens was new to USC in 2026. He struggled in 2025 as well. This year's coaches couldn't get through to him any more than 2025's coaching staff did. What does this say about a program? Everything you need to know ... and it's obviously not good.
Culture of sloppiness
We talk about culture all the time. The fact of the matter at USC football is that Lincoln Riley tolerates sloppiness. He can talk all he wants about the need to eliminate it, but it just keeps popping up. Penalty after penalty, USC does something to get in the way of success. This is what an accountability-free program looks like.
Oregon wasn't even that good this year
In past years, when Dan Lanning and Oregon would beat Lincoln Riley and USC, it was clear the Ducks just had better players, and Lanning had more to work with than Riley did. This year, it wasn't quite the same situation. Oregon's defense looked a lot weaker than it did in previous years against USC. The Ducks' offensive line wasn't as strong as it was in previous matchups against the Trojans. Oregon committed plenty of its own mistakes, such as holding penalties or pass interference or false starts. This Oregon team does not look like an elite team - not even close. Yet, USC continuously bailed out the Ducks with key situational breakdowns. The lack of accountability embodied in Desman Stephens' total loss of control has once again crushed USC's dreams of being a top-tier Big Ten (and college football) team.
Follow through
Now, the question we are all asking: Does Lincoln Riley have the guts and integrity to kick Desman Stephens off the team, or if not that, to demand a significant level of accountability which represents more than a slap on the wrist? Surely Stephens - if allowed to stay on the team - cannot be allowed to start the next few games. He needs to be suspended at least five games. Maybe the Big Ten will weigh in. It would be a bad look, though, if the conference does something Riley is unwilling to do himself. Riley ought to step in, stand up, and be a leader on this. We're all waiting to see if he will do that.
Jennifer Cohen
If Lincoln Riley doesn't promptly kick Desman Stephens off the team, USC athletic director Jennifer Cohen can obviously step in and enforce discipline. However, similar to the Big Ten example mentioned above, it would look bad if someone other than Lincoln Riley winds up doing what Riley ought to do himself.
USC lost a game. Let's see if its failed head coach can at least show some integrity. Desman Stephens has to be gone, or at the very least, severely punished beyond one or two games.
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This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: Desman Stephens must be dismissed from USC football program
