Dillon Gabriel’s Journey: From Hawaii to the National Championship Chase
EUGENE, Ore. — Picture this: the vibe king of college football, Dillon Gabriel, is in his element. He’s sitting comfortably in Oregon’s quarterback room, fresh from a Tuesday morning practice with the No. 1 team in the country. Gabriel, who has made quite the journey across the college football landscape, is enjoying a takeout box filled with crispy chicken, beef teriyaki, rice, and macaroni salad. It’s a moment of calm before the storm of the College Football Playoff.
“It’s everything I thought it would be and more, honestly,” Gabriel reflects on his season with the Ducks. It’s been a six-year odyssey for Gabriel, who has quarterbacked his way across the country, and now he’s on the brink of an unforgettable ending. The Ducks are just three wins away from their first-ever national championship, and Gabriel is the seasoned QB leading the charge. Since moving from Hawaii to start college in 2019, he’s seen it all.
Gabriel’s journey has taken him through UCF, Oklahoma, and now Oregon, making him the most experienced starting quarterback in major college football history. He’s achieved 10-plus-win seasons at all three schools and has been an all-conference performer in three different leagues. “He’s doing stuff no one’s ever done,” says Oregon tight end Terrance Ferguson.
Gabriel already holds the NCAA record for total touchdowns (187), and he’s on the verge of breaking another record. With 153 career touchdown passes, he’s just three touchdowns away from surpassing Case Keenum’s FBS record as he enters the College Football Playoff quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl against Ohio State (5 p.m. ET, ESPN). If the Ducks go all the way, Gabriel could become the NCAA’s all-time leading passer.
Finishing third in Heisman Trophy voting behind Colorado’s Travis Hunter and Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty was an honor, but Gabriel wasn’t chasing that. His mission has always been championships, the one thing he hasn’t achieved over six seasons and more than 4,300 career snaps.
As Gabriel closes in on rings, records, and the final days of a 63-game college career, ESPN sat down with the Ducks’ quarterback and his teammates to reflect on his journey. “God’s got a weird way of just putting you where you need to be,” Gabriel muses. “My goal is to just trust that and have a sense of peace knowing that what happens will be. It’s about how can I give myself the best shot by the way I work, coming in every day, not wasting a day. There really is no tomorrow. Why wait for it?”
Gabriel’s journey began at UCF in 2019, where he stepped in as a true freshman from Hawaii. Coach Josh Heupel was leading UCF in the American Athletic Conference, and the Knights were searching for a QB while McKenzie Milton recovered from a devastating leg injury. Gabriel was making a push to play right away.
UCF WR Marlon Williams: “There’s a reason why Dillon had to step in and play as a freshman. D.J. Mack Jr. was our starting quarterback. He was playing intramural basketball at the rec at UCF right before camp and broke his ankle. The coaches made sure there was no more basketball after that. I think they used to have coaches pop in over there randomly just to make sure we weren’t there.”
Williams recalls thinking it would be a long season, but after seeing Gabriel throw, he knew they’d be fine. Gabriel’s energy was contagious, and his passion for football was evident. “He was still a young guy, a little immature. But we all saw he was going to be the player he is today. That’s why he played,” Williams adds.
Gabriel’s freshman year was a learning experience, and he had to grow up quickly. “The growing pains were real. I didn’t get the privilege to learn on a practice field. I learned in front of everyone. They had to see it all, and some of it was really good. I loved the experience because it’s made me such a different human being now,” Gabriel reflects.
At UCF, Gabriel had talent to throw to, including Marlon Williams and future NFL player Gabriel Davis. Davis challenged Gabriel early on, pushing him to be better. “Gabe was like the big brother. He kind of teased me a little bit, poked fun at me, which I loved, too. He was a junior going to the pros and was so driven and you’d see the way he worked. He’d come up to me like, ‘Throw me the f—ing ball,'” Gabriel recalls.
Gabriel’s time at UCF was marked by growth and learning from great leaders like McKenzie Milton, who mentored him. “McKenzie is a one-of-a-kind person. To have him mentor you and let you know the ins and outs, what he sees on a play, I can only imagine how much that helped Dillon from a preparation standpoint and feeling more confident from day to day,” says Tre Nixon.
After three years at UCF, Gabriel transferred to Oklahoma, where he continued to grow as a player and leader. He faced challenges, including a 6-7 season, but he remained resilient. “It was a s—show for sure. But if you look at those games, it was a bunch of tight-score games that didn’t go our way. We just weren’t good in situations and details. I think we just learned from those moments as a team and got better,” Gabriel says.
Gabriel’s time at Oklahoma was highlighted by a memorable game-winning drive against Texas in the Cotton Bowl. “That was one of my favorite moments of my entire time at Oklahoma. Because the year before that, we got beat 49-0. Texas came in the next year thinking that s— was sweet. And it wasn’t,” says Drake Stoops.
Now at Oregon, Gabriel is focused on winning a national championship. He’s surrounded by a mature team and is determined to make the most of his sixth year. “I just think a sixth year is so unique. Not a lot of people have done it. You’ve got to be around people you trust, people who understand. There are a lot of vets here. It’s probably the oldest team I’ve been on. They’re mature. They handle success well and they handle adversity well,” Gabriel explains.
As Gabriel continues his journey, his teammates and coaches are rooting for him. “If there’s anybody that deserves a national championship, it’s definitely him. Because of all the work I’ve seen him put in and all the trials and tribulations that he’s gone through. I feel like they’re going to go all the way,” says Nic Anderson.
When asked about his favorite touchdown pass, Gabriel grins and says, “The next one.”
Originally Written by: Max Olson
