USC Players Get Into Another Brawl With Oregon in Tunnel After Humiliating Home Loss Despite Ugly Antics

The situation between Oregon and USC players became heated after the Trojans LB Desman Stephens was ejected for targeting Ducks quarterback Dante Moore.

USC Players Get Into Another Brawl With Oregon in Tunnel After Humiliating Home Loss Despite Ugly Antics

Oregon and USC players bicker inside the Coliseum tunnel (Image via Yardbarker/X)

On Saturday at the Coliseum, Oregon players lost their cool seeing USC players celebrate linebacker Desman Stephens’ dangerous tackle on quarterback Dante Moore. Fights broke out during and after the game.

In the second quarter, Moore scrambled to get a first down for Oregon before taking a hit from Stephens. The senior signal caller stayed down and showed signs of a concussion.

Stephens celebrated the hit with his teammates while the medical team tended to the injured Moore. The officials threw penalty flags for a late hit and unsportsmanlike conduct. Stephens was ejected from the game.

Meanwhile, a bunch of Oregon players started arguing with their USC counterparts. Staff members broke up the tension to restart the game. Dylan Raiola replaced Moore and led the Ducks to a 41-27 victory.

Even though the game had ended, tensions flared once more. This time, players from both teams locked horns inside the stadium tunnel. It had all the tools for an all-out brawl, a repeat of the infamous tunnel fight between Michigan and Michigan State players in 2022, but luckily, the staff de-escalated the situation before it got out of hand. The Athletic’s Ira Gorawara shared a video clip of the scuffle on Twitter.

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Dan Lanning and Oregon are the Trojans’ Achilles ‘ heel

Oregon went 8-1 in the Big 10 and won 13 total games, reaching the college football playoffs last year. They were knocked out in the Peach Bowl by eventual champions Indiana. They started the 2026 college football season with a chip on their shoulder. Dante Moore stayed instead of going to the NFL to help the Ducks finally secure a college crown.

USC Players Get Into Another Brawl With Oregon in Tunnel After Humiliating Home Loss Despite Ugly Antics
Oregon head coach Dan Lanning (Image via Yardbarker)

On opening day, the Ducks defeated Boise State but suffered a shock defeat against Oklahoma State. They made Portland State pay by scoring more than 80 points. Moore threw 4 touchdowns, while offseason acquisition Dylan Raiola contributed 3.

Oregon wasn’t finished. They brought the same intensity to California on Saturday against 12th-ranked USC. USC took the lead in the second quarter, and minutes later Moore left the field.

Raiola stepped in and made sure the Ducks secured a victory. He completed 19 of 25 passes for 289 yards and scored 2 touchdowns. Running back Dierre Hill Jr. rushed for two touchdowns, while Jordon Davison added one. Oregon scored 41 points and allowed just 27 to go 3-1 for the season.

After the game, head coach Dan Lanning took a playful jab at USC.

I guess when the Ducks show up, that’s how you fill up the Coliseum. Three wins against these guys. I guess if you’re interested in winning football games from this area, you should go to Oregon instead of going to a Chris Brown concert.

Dan Lanning said via The Oregonian’s Bill Oram

USC has had low attendance at home games since Week one. Photos of empty seats at the iconic Coliseum flooded social media, maligning the USC Trojans brand. Efforts have been made to attract more fans, and according to sources who eyeballed the bleachers at Saturday’s game, confirmed fans had turned out in numbers. Unfortunately for them, they witnessed the Trojans suffer its first defeat of the year.

It’s hard to play in a tough environment. … I’ve watched three of their TV games. I haven’t seen a game packed yet, but we were here. So I guess when the Ducks show up, that’s how you build the Coliseum.

Lanning added

This was Lanning’s first win as Oregon boss at the Coliseum. But he’s 3-0 against the Trojans. The other two wins came at Autzen Stadium (2023 and 2025). Oregon is also 8-2 in this fixture in the last ten meetings.

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