Dillon Gabriel was faced with a quandary when he arrived at Oregon this year.
Gabriel had worn No. 8 at Oklahoma before transferring for his sixth season of eligibility. But in Eugene, that number had special significance because it had been worn by Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota.
There were many similarities between the two: They were both dual-threat quarterbacks who had piled up accolades along with yards and touchdowns. Both hailed from Hawaii and were shaped by the island spirit.
Mariota chose the No. 8 initially because of the number of Hawaiian islands. His helmet’s facemask was formed in an 808, Hawaii’s area code.
So Gabriel took a leap of faith and texted Mariota to ask his permission. Mariota, now with the NFL’s Washington Commanders, said yes.
“You know, when you’re growing up and you have that kind of direct example, a guy from Hawaii, playing at a high level, at the DI level, and then you see him go to the NFL, it’s like you can see it, you can believe it,” Gabriel said.
Gabriel has led the top-ranked Ducks (12-0, 9-0 Big Ten) through an undefeated season and on to the Big Ten title game on Saturday against No. 4 Penn State (11-1, 8-1) in Indianapolis.
Gabriel — who played his first three years at Central Florida before joining the Sooners — became the all-time NCAA leader for total career touchdowns along the way and now has 183, including 149 via pass, 33 via rush and one reception. He’s tied with former Oregon quarterback Bo Nix — now with the Denver Broncos — with an FBS-record 61 career starts.
Ever humble, Gabriel is thoughtful about the arc of his career.
“I think we’re in an interesting time that’s all about results. And so many people talk about the process but aren’t patient enough. I think if you look at my body of work, I’m a guy who’s eager and wants to get better but has had that time to develop and work in that way. I think you see it over time,” Gabriel said.
As a Duck, Gabriel has thrown for 3,277 yards and 24 TDs in 12 games. He’s rushed for seven more scores.
Mariota spent his three-year college career at Oregon, throwing for 104 touchdowns and running for 29 more. He was the Ducks’ quarterback in the 2014 season, the last time Oregon advanced to the national championship game.
“I mean, everybody would love to run out there with the experience that we have at quarterback right now,” Oregon coach Dan Lanning said. “And I think that experience shows up consistently every Saturday for us. More than anything, just the ability for Dillon to be calm within the chaos that exists in a football game, and being a great decision-maker and understanding the scheme.”
The only other time Oregon finished the regular season 12-0 was in 2010, when the Ducks played for the BCS national championship.
Among the team’s victories this season was a 32-31 win at home over Ohio State and a 38-17 victory over Michigan at the Big House.
The Ducks capped the season with a 49-21 victory over rival Washington, finishing 9-0 in their first Big Ten year. Gabriel threw for a pair of touchdowns and ran for another in that game.
The Nittany Lions advanced to the conference title game with a 44-7 victory over Maryland on Saturday. They were helped by Ohio State’s 13-10 loss to Michigan in Columbus.
Oregon has played the Nittany Lions just one other time, in the 1995 Rose Bowl. Penn State, led by Joe Paterno, won that one, 38-20.
The winner in Indianapolis this weekend can secure a first-round bye in the expanded 12-team playoffs. Both teams are assured of a playoff berth even with a loss.
On Tuesday, Gabriel added another honor when he was named Big Ten offensive player of the year.
“He’s earned the trust and the admiration of all his teammates and the coaches around him,” Lanning said. “This guy prepares extremely hard. He is the calmest dude you’ve ever been around on the field, which is impressive, but I’m really proud of him and what he’s been able to do for this team.”
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