Wed Jan 01 22:20:00 UTC 2025: ## Veteran Quarterback Dillon Gabriel Leads Oregon Ducks’ Rose Bowl Charge

**LOS ANGELES** – Oregon Ducks quarterback Dillon Gabriel, a 24-year-old senior with six years of college football experience under his belt, is defying critics and leading his team on a remarkable playoff run. Gabriel, who has played for three different universities (UCF, Oklahoma, and Oregon), leveraged extra eligibility from a redshirt year and the COVID-19 pandemic to extend his collegiate career. This decision, he argues, has been crucial to his development and success.

“A lot of people are mad that they weren’t able to play to a certain age,” Gabriel stated, emphasizing the benefits of extended playing time. He’s currently just three touchdowns shy of breaking Case Keenum’s FBS career record and four away from surpassing Cam Ward’s combined FBS and FCS record.

Gabriel’s longevity has translated into impressive statistics: 18,423 career passing yards (second all-time) and a career-high 73.2% completion rate this season. His experience has been instrumental in Oregon’s undefeated regular season, according to head coach Dan Lanning, who praised Gabriel’s poise under pressure.

Despite being on the verge of setting multiple records and potentially entering the NFL Draft, Gabriel chose to transfer to Oregon with a single-minded focus: winning a national championship. “If I wanted individual awards, I would’ve played tennis or golf,” he stated. The Ducks are now three wins away from achieving that goal, starting with their upcoming Rose Bowl game against Ohio State.

Meanwhile, Alabama coach Nick Saban, in a separate interview with Pat McAfee, advocated for a different College Football Playoff seeding system to create more competitive games and a fairer tournament. His comments highlight ongoing discussions about improving the structure of college football’s postseason.

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