Dillon Gabriel and Oregon Chasing a National Championship

The clock hit 0:00 Saturday night in Eugene, Oregon with Ohio State players and coaches alike trying to call timeout to attempt a game-winning field goal, but it was too late.

The Oregon Ducks, in their first year in the Big Ten, upset the preseason favorites and second-ranked team in the country, defeating them 32-31. With this victory, they sent a clear message to the college football world: they can compete with—and beat—the best. "Those are the moments you dream of. The atmosphere, there's nothing better. Whenever you have those opportunities, you need to seize them," said quarterback Dillon Gabriel on this week’s episode of "The Triple Option."

The sixth-year graduate transfer threw for 341 yards and three total touchdowns, bringing a wealth of experience to the field. "I've been in a lot of those situations, both good and bad. You just try to learn from them and get better," Gabriel added.

This win propelled Oregon to number two in the AP Rankings and positioned Gabriel squarely in the Heisman Trophy race. However, he assured Coach Urban Meyer that he remains focused. "The beauty of the game we play is that every week, you have to show up. You're only as good as your last outing."

Looking ahead, Oregon's schedule appears favorable, with only two ranked teams remaining on their slate.

Gabriel faced a similar scenario at Oklahoma in 2023, where he and the Sooners beat third-ranked Texas but then lost back-to-back games to unranked opponents; a situation he is determined to avoid this time. "I've been through it once, and it didn’t necessarily get handled the right way. So, I know what it looks like when it goes wrong," he said.

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