The 2024 Heisman finalists were announced Monday night, and Oregon Ducks star Dillon Gabriel is one of four players invited to Saturday’s award presentation in New York.
Why should the Ducks’ quarterback win the Heisman Trophy? What are Gabriel’s realistic chances of receiving the most coveted individual award in college football?
Why Should Dillon Gabriel Win the Heisman Trophy?
The Oregon Ducks are undefeated and easily secured the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff after a 45-37 win over the Penn State Nittany Lions in the Big Ten Championship. Quarterback Gabriel is a huge reason for the Ducks’ success in their first year in the Big Ten.
A transfer from the Oklahoma Sooners, Gabriel was a major recruiting win for the Ducks, even though the Sooners were mysteriously at peace with the quarterback’s decision.
FOLLOW ALONG: Track Every Transfer Portal Entrant in our CFN Transfer Portal Tracker now!
As the Sooners’ struggles at the quarterback position exposed long-standing cracks in the offense, Gabriel thrived in a more stable situation.
Oregon waltzed to an undefeated record, beating three of the top eight College Football Playoff teams along the way. The offense scored 32 or more points in all those games and was held under 30 points twice this season.
Gabriel threw for 3,558 yards and 28 touchdowns this season, completing 73.% of his passes, second-best among qualified passers. He threw six interceptions and took just 13 sacks this year, adding seven touchdowns on the ground.
The overall numbers aren’t gaudy, but there’s some nuance needed. Gabriel threw for 867 yards and eight touchdowns this season against teams that made the College Football Playoff. He didn’t throw an interception and added two touchdowns on the ground against the highest-quality opponents.
MORE: 2025 NFL Draft Underclassmen Tracker
Gabriel’s raw numbers hurt his case, but he was at his best when needed, and some of his numbers were lower simply because the offense throttled down after building big leads.
The lefty quarterback is the best in the College Football Playoff and will continue to star as the Ducks march toward a national title.
A high-performing quarterback on the country’s best team will always have a seat at the table for the Heisman Trophy ceremony.
Gabriel would be considered one of the Heisman Trophy frontrunners in most other years.
However, Colorado Buffaloes’ two-way superstar Travis Hunter and Boise State Broncos running back Ashton Jeanty had historic seasons, doing things we’ve rarely seen before in college football. Cam Ward has starred, putting up ridiculous quarterback numbers with numerous fourth-quarter comebacks.
Still, Oregon’s quarterback is one of the best players in college football because of his precision and consistency, and those qualities should be rewarded.
That’s why Gabriel should win the Heisman Trophy.
College Football Network has you covered with the latest from the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, SEC, and every Group of Five conference and FBS Independent program.