USC Broadcaster Pete Arbogast Draws Fire Over Dante Moore Call

Los Angeles, California — A live radio description of a hit on Oregon quarterback Dante Moore by USC's broadcast team has drawn scrutiny after the play left Moore being carted off the field, according to a report published by OutKick, the sports site owned by Fox News, on September 30.

What did the USC announcer say during the hit?

USC play-by-play announcer Pete Arbogast told listeners that Moore "ducked into that hit," OutKick reported. The description characterized the quarterback as having moved into contact rather than being struck unexpectedly. OutKick's report, written by Zach Dean, said the call did not match what video of the play showed.

How was Dante Moore hurt on the play?

According to OutKick's account, Moore was sliding feet-first — a standard method quarterbacks use to signal they are giving themselves up to avoid a hit — before contact was made by USC's Desman Stephens. Moore was subsequently stretchered off the field, per the report. OutKick did not publish additional details on the extent of Moore's injury or his condition afterward.

"Ducked into that hit." — USC radio announcer Pete Arbogast, describing the play on air, as reported by OutKick.

Why is the broadcast call under scrutiny?

OutKick's headline and reporting framed the discrepancy between Arbogast's live description and the video evidence of a feet-first slide as the source of criticism. The report did not include a response or clarification from Arbogast, USC's athletic department, or the university's broadcast partner. HTT News found no statement from USC addressing the call as of publication.

Is USC coach Lincoln Riley facing separate criticism?

The same OutKick report was published alongside a video segment titled "Lincoln Riley HAS TO GO," from Fox Sports Radio's "The Craig Carton Show," in which host Craig Carton called for Riley's firing over how the USC coach "handled" the aftermath of Moore's injury. OutKick's page did not include the substance of Carton's argument beyond the segment title, and USC has not issued a public statement responding to that criticism either, based on available reporting.

What happens next for Moore and USC?

Neither Oregon nor USC has released an official injury update on Moore beyond what is described in the OutKick report — that he left the field on a stretcher after the hit. OutKick's story does not specify the game date, score, or officiating response on the field, and HTT News could not independently corroborate those details from the material provided. Readers seeking Moore's medical status or any disciplinary review of the play should watch for statements from Oregon's athletic department or the conference office, neither of which had commented as of the OutKick report's publication.

The episode adds to a week of scrutiny for USC's football program, already facing separate criticism over its head coach's handling of the injury's aftermath, according to the Fox Sports Radio segment referenced in OutKick's coverage.