Illegal Hit on Oregon QB Dante Moore Puts NCAA Targeting Rules Into Focus

In a recent Oregon football game, Oregon quarterback Dante Moore was hit illegally by USC defender linebacker Desman Stephens II, resulting in a targeting penalty. Moore was carted off the field after the hit, which occurred early in the second quarter with Oregon trailing 7-3. Stephens II was ejected from the game following the infraction.

The NCAA has implemented new targeting rules this season, including a trial rule that allows disqualified players to play in their team's next game if the penalty was assessed in the first half. Under the new rules, each subsequent targeting offense results in progressively harsher penalties. While Moore's hit did not impact him directly this time, the rule has implications for future targeting violations.

Last season, the NCAA enforced 117 targeting fouls, with 64 occurring in the second half and requiring players to sit out the first half of their next game. Moore, a projected first-round NFL draft pick, was evaluated at Los Angeles General County Hospital after the incident.