Oregon QB Dillon Gabriel barely holds Big Ten touchdown lead over surprising transfer

Oregon QB Dillon Gabriel barely holds Big Ten touchdown lead over surprising transfer

Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel will attempt to keep his slim Big Ten touchdown lead alive entering the Week 10 matchup against Michigan. Through the beginning of the month, Gabriel has tossed 23 touchdowns compared to Ohio State’s Will Howard, who has 22.

The Ducks are unbeaten and maintain the nation’s No. 1 ranking. They also hold the head-to-head tiebreaker against the Buckeyes, earning a 32-31 win on October 12 in Eugene.

There is a chance both teams could play each other again in a month for the Big Ten title game. The Buckeyes’ lone loss puts them in a position with little to no room for error moving forward.

They have a stiff road test against Penn State in State College in what could very well be a win-or-bust scenario for which team winds up in Indianapolis. Indiana is still unbeaten, visiting Michigan State this week. Meanwhile, Illinois looks for its seventh win to keep its conference title hopes alive.

Whatever the case, Gabriel’s impressive season can’t go unnoticed, putting him firmly in the running as one of the nation’s best.

Oregon QB Dillon Gabriel called ‘rare’ by Ducks teammate

Gabriel’s teammate, WR Tez Johnson, believes Gabriel is a “rare” talent, sharing as much during an interview with On SI.

“Very creative,” Oregon wide receiver Tez Johnson told Bri Amaranthus. “Every week we become more and more dynamic. I feel like it’s just the quarterback we have – how he thinks of new plays every day. He’s just always willing to try the most crazy stuff to see if it works… We go out there right on Saturday and score on (Gabriel’s play.) It gives us a lot of confidence in that we can do pretty much anything.”

It’s hard to disagree with Tez. What he described is what we’ve been seeing all season long from Gabriel, who has led the Ducks to the No. 1 spot in the country and a possible No. 1 ranking in the first College Football Playoff Rankings this Tuesday.