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USC Suspends Desman Stephens II After Targeting Ejection

By Drooid · Sep 28, 2026, 3:25 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Desman Stephens Ejected

USC linebacker Desman Stephens II delivered a dirty hit that injured Oregon quarterback Dante Moore.
Officials penalized Stephens II for targeting and ejected him from the game.
USC suspended Stephens II for the following game.
NBC analyst Chris Simms blamed Moore for sliding late during halftime commentary.
Simms faced social-media backlash and later posted an apology video citing his 2006 ruptured-spleen injury.

Summary

Nicole Auerbach Suggests Punishment

The targeting rule ejected the player and triggered a mandatory NCAA playing-rules committee review.
Nicole Auerbach suggested the Big Ten could punish USC under its sportsmanship policy.
Broadcast commentators labeled the hit an obvious targeting penalty during live coverage.
Fans on social media called for stricter enforcement of targeting rules after Moore’s injury.
Stephens’ teammates gathered, dapped and congratulated him on the sidelines immediately after the hit.

History

Historical Context

The NCAA introduced a mandatory targeting rule for the 2013 season, automatically ejecting players for head-to-head hits and adding a 15-yard penalty; about 1,200 ejections occurred that first year. USC linebacker Desman Stephens II’s hit on Oregon quarterback Dante Moore triggered the same sanction, prompting commentary from NBC analyst Chris Simms and Big Ten official Nicole Auerbach.

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Desman Stephens Ejected

USC linebacker Desman Stephens II delivered a dirty hit that injured Oregon quarterback Dante Moore.
Officials penalized Stephens II for targeting and ejected him from the game.
USC suspended Stephens II for the following game.
NBC analyst Chris Simms blamed Moore for sliding late during halftime commentary.
Simms faced social-media backlash and later posted an apology video citing his 2006 ruptured-spleen injury.

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