Fans blast USC's Desman Stephens II after celebrating illegal Dante Moore hit

USC linebacker Desman Stephens II got ejected from Saturday's Oregon game for targeting after an illegal hit on quarterback Dante Moore.

Moore left the game on a bodyboard during the incredibly scary scene. Stephens' behavior after the illegal hit left fans and media watching in disbelief as he celebrated with his teammates while Moore was on the ground.

The camera also caught Stephens on the sideline still seemingly unfazed and still celebratory after the hit on Moore and the subsequent concern for his health on the field.

Fans and media members justifiably took to social media to express their extreme distaste in Stephens' behavior after such a needless, dangerous hit that rightly got him ejected from the game and may lead to a suspension.

Everything

about that hit on Dante Moore was awful. Blatant targeting by Desmon Stephens, who knocked out Moore cold, ran around celebrating (nearly causing a brawl) and was still smiling on the sideline minutes later with Moore still on the ground. It's Dylan Raiola time.

— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) September 27, 2026

Scary hit on Dante Moore, but wth is this reaction by USC while that dude is laying on the field? pic.twitter.com/wpfabBgOzl

— Connor O'Gara (@cjogara) September 27, 2026

Desmond Stephens needs to be suspended the rest of the season by @bigten

Its one thing to hit a guy and helmets happened to hit. Its another a to get a cheap shot, make fun of the injured player, then celebrate with teammates

This wasnt a football play & his reaction proves it pic.twitter.com/Nm6YRF6z5b

— BigTenBruin (@BIG10Bruin) September 27, 2026

Desman Stephens II should be suspended for the year for celebrating like that. 🤮🤮 #cfb https://t.co/rz8Pabqzjb

— Brooks White (@BrooksWhite14) September 27, 2026

Praying that Dante Moore is ok. Just a brutal sequence and there’s no place for that from Desman Stephens II.

Dylan Raiola gets pressed into duty and finds Evan Stewart for a touchdown two plays later. A massive spot for the Nebraska transfer.

Ducks 10, Trojans 7.

— John Fanta (@John_Fanta) September 27, 2026

Desman Stephens II is for sure getting suspended. Dirty as hell, and was smiling and celebrating afterwards. Completely unacceptable.

And don't you dare tell that's football. That ain't football. https://t.co/padGJiANL1

— Josh Gitt (@joshgitt1987) September 27, 2026

Forget about any #B1G suspension for Desman Stephens. USC should not allow him to play for the Trojans again. He doesn't seem to care. Not showing any contrition for that is *completely* unacceptable. No place in the program for that.

— USC Trojans Wire (@TrojansWire) September 27, 2026

I don't care what anyone says, for USC's Desman Stephens to gloat after seeing Dante Moore on the field like that. No place for it.

Ejection. Suspension. Horrible.

— Tarek Fattal (@Tarek_Fattal) September 27, 2026

Desman Stephens II has been at USC for 3 years. He just head-hunted Dante Moore and then taunted Oregon’s roster after he knocked Moore out. Then he laughed on the sideline and dapped up teammates. People are gonna see that as a reflection on the USC staff. They should.

— Ralph Amsden (@ralphamsden) September 27, 2026

Celebrating and taunting after that hit on Dante Moore should be a multi-game suspension. Just absolutely disgraceful.
No words.

— Andrew Nemec (@AndrewNemec) September 27, 2026

You can see why folks were so irate over this.

Is Moore okay?

Here's what we know right now.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: Fans blast USC's Desman Stephens II after celebrating illegal Dante Moore hit