EUGENE, Ore. — After leading Oregon to a go-ahead drive, quarterback Dillon Gabriel sat on the bench, headset on, barely glancing up as Ohio State pushed down the field in the final moments. Minutes later, Gabriel emerged from the Ducks’ locker room, dancing and celebrating with the fans who had stormed the field. He even sang during his postgame press conference, basking in the thrilling 32-31 victory over the second-ranked Buckeyes.
In his first major game since transferring to Oregon in the offseason, Gabriel delivered. His third-ranked Ducks edged out Ohio State in a high-stakes showdown.
“We knew it was going to be a dogfight, two heavyweights going at it,” Gabriel said. “This is what college football is all about.”
Few players understand college football better than Gabriel, who made his 55th career start on Saturday. Previously at UCF and Oklahoma, he entered the season as a Heisman favorite. After a slower start, he reignited his candidacy with a standout performance, completing 23 of 34 passes for 341 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for the game’s final score, a 27-yard run on a fake handoff that fooled Ohio State’s defense.
That score cemented Gabriel’s place in history as the first FBS player to throw for 125 touchdowns and rush for 30 more.
“Every time I looked at his eyes, I saw composure,” said Oregon coach Dan Lanning. “He was ready for every moment and played really, really well tonight.”
Gabriel’s biggest moment came on Oregon’s final drive. Trailing 31-29 with six minutes left, he completed all five passes for 41 yards. Though the drive stalled at Ohio State’s 1-yard line, Atticus Sappington’s 19-yard field goal put Oregon ahead with 1:47 remaining.
Ohio State had a final chance to win, driving to the Oregon 28. However, an offensive pass interference penalty on freshman Jeremiah Smith pushed them out of field goal range. On the last play, Buckeyes quarterback Will Howard scrambled and slid, running out the clock as Oregon fans rushed the field.
“[Gabriel] showed toughness,” said Oregon receiver Tez Johnson, who caught a 48-yard touchdown from Gabriel late in the second quarter. “He went out there, beat a top-two opponent, and stayed poised the entire game.”
Oregon’s victory not only kept the Ducks undefeated (6-0), but also placed them firmly in the Big Ten title and playoff race. They are now one of three undefeated Big Ten teams, alongside Penn State and Indiana, but won’t face either during the regular season.
Though Gabriel acknowledged that Oregon still has a long way to go this season, when asked about his journey from UCF to Oklahoma to Oregon, he smiled and sang, “coast to coast.” He then reflected, saying, “I’ve learned a lot at each stop, about football and about myself. Right now, I’m just enjoying the present and loving every bit of it.”
After leaving the locker room, Gabriel was met by fans outside the tunnel, embracing the moment. He donned a large Oregon hat from one fan and hugged his coaches and teammates before returning to the locker room to continue the celebration.
“When you win against a great opponent, you enjoy it,” Gabriel said. “Winning is fun. But we know it’s just a step in the right direction. Tomorrow, we wake up and get back to work.”