Lincoln Riley explains decision to suspend USC's Desman Stephens II

During USC’s 41-27 loss to Oregon, Stephens hit Moore on the head with his forearm as the quarterback attempted to slide. Moore instantly went down and was in the fencing position, an indication of a concussion. After a near brawl broke out over Oregon players defending their star, Stephens was seen celebrating the hit as he made his way back to the sideline.

Riley said the decision to suspend Stephens for USC’s upcoming game against Washington came after having a conversation athletic director Jen Cohen on Sunday, Sept. 27.

“I didn’t see it during the game. Obviously, I was disappointed with how he handled it,” Riley told reporters on Tuesday, Sept. 29. “Knowing him like I do, do I think that do I believe deep down in my heart that he was celebrating over an injured player? No. I’m not gonna attempt to, it’s a little difficult to describe to everybody sometimes what it’s like in the arena when you haven’t been in the arena. It’s highly competitive. It’s highly emotional, and so I’m disappointed with what he needs to be.

“He needs to have more awareness because it was a serious situation, we never want to see anybody down like that ever on any side. We’re all humans at the end of the day. We compete hard against one another, but you never want to see that. Desman doesn’t want to see that, so I’m disappointed with how he handled it, and that’s why we made the decision to suspend him for a game.”

Oregon quarterback Dante Moore is hit after sliding by USC linebacker Desman Stephens II as the Oregon Ducks face the USC Trojans on Sept. 26, 2026, at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, Calif. Dante Moore suffered a serious injury against Southern California on Saturday.

The play happened with just over 10 minutes in the second quarter inside Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Moore scrambled on a play and when he took a slide, USC defender Desman Stephens II hit him late with a forearm to Moore’s head, which hit the grass hard. A flag was thrown and Moore was not immediately moving but his body was twitching as the Oregon support staff rushed to attend to him.

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Oregon quarterback Dante Moore is hit after sliding by USC linebacker Desman Stephens II as the Oregon Ducks face the USC Trojans on Sept. 26, 2026, at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, Calif. Dante Moore suffered a serious injury against Southern California on Saturday.

The play happened with just over 10 minutes in the second quarter inside Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Moore scrambled on a play and when he took a slide, USC defender Desman Stephens II hit him late with a forearm to Moore’s head, which hit the grass hard. A flag was thrown and Moore was not immediately moving but his body was twitching as the Oregon support staff rushed to attend to him.

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USC Trojans linebacker Desman Stephens II (8) tackles Oregon Ducks quarterback Dante Moore (5) and is charged with targeting during the second quarter at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

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The USC coach added Stephens is a young person “that made a mistake” and it’s the coaching staff’s job to educate him on what he didn’t do right.

“The consequence is real, but we support him,” Riley said. “He’s a part of our family. He’s one of ours. I look at him like a son. Even in a situation where you made a mistake doesn’t change that.”

Stephens will miss the game against the Huskies on Saturday, Oct. 3. The junior linebacker has played in all five games for the Trojans this season with 19 tackles, including 1.5 for loss.