The 21-year-old quarterback was injured during the second quarter at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Moore scrambled on the play and began to slide, according to USA Today, when USC linebacker Desman Stephen II struck him, causing his head to hit the ground.
Officials immediately threw a flag as Moore remained on the field. Oregon's medical staff rushed over to assess him while his teammates gathered nearby.
After several minutes, Moore was placed on a stretcher and carried from the field. The Oregon team stood together as he was taken away, while USC quarterback Jayden Maiava also approached to check on him.
Moore was then placed inside an ambulance and transported to a local hospital for further evaluation. NBC's broadcast team reported shortly after halftime that Moore was being assessed by doctors.
The play also sparked tension between the teams. Oregon players confronted USC defenders following the hit, leading to a brief confrontation that coaches and officials worked to stop.
Stephen was called for targeting and disqualified from the game. Officials also issued offsetting unsportsmanlike conduct penalties to both teams following the altercation.
Moore, who is from East Cleveland, Ohio, began his college career at UCLA in 2023. He announced his decision to transfer to Oregon in December of that year and quickly established himself as one of the Ducks' leading players.
The quarterback was viewed as a potential early selection in the 2026 NFL Draft but chose to return to college for another season. He entered the 2026 campaign as one of the quarterbacks being watched ahead of the 2027 NFL Draft.
Before Saturday's matchup, Moore had helped Oregon to a 2-1 record and had thrown for 849 yards and nine touchdowns, according to ESPN.
With Moore forced to leave the game, Oregon turned to Dylan Raiola at quarterback. Raiola, 21, transferred to Oregon during the offseason after starting the previous two seasons at Nebraska.
The extent of Moore's injury and his recovery timeline were not immediately clear following his hospitalization. The Ducks will await further medical evaluations before determining when or whether their starting quarterback can return to the field.
The incident brought a frightening moment to a highly anticipated matchup between Oregon and USC, with Moore's health becoming the immediate concern following the collision.
