Ahead of the Big Ten Championship, ESPN College GameDay kicked off Saturday from Atlanta – where Texas and Georgia would later play in the SEC title game – but featured none other than Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel.
The Ducks' game against the Penn State Nittany Lions may have been one of if not the biggest game of Gabriel's career but the limelight and fame that comes with leading the No. 1 team in the nation isn't what it's all about for the quarterback.
From the jump, Gabriel made it known that relationships and connections were his focus. He drives a minivan so that he can fit more teammates in his car for Pete's sake.
The nearly four-minute feature on Gabriel highlighted how much he cares about his teammates, his coaches, and everyone around him. His family-first mentality translates directly into the locker room and onto the field, and it has paid off.
“This game is so short … but those relationships will stick with you for a lifetime if you do it the right way.”
— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) December 7, 2024
Dillon Gabriel tells @JenLada how he’s made connecting with his teammates a top priority on their road to the Big Ten title game 🏆 pic.twitter.com/Uu1PC7FLmJ
With Gabriel running the offense, Oregon stormed past all 12 of its regular season opponents – including upsetting the Ohio State Buckeyes to claim the No. 1 spot in the country.
Before Gabriel ever played a snap for the Ducks though, many Oregon fans could tell he was special. Not only did the veteran quarterback find a lot of success at his former schools (UCF and Oklahoma) but he also decided to wear the jersey No. 8 – something that means quite a bit for Oregon quarterbacks.
Heisman-winning QB Marcus Mariota donned the No. 8 while he played for the Ducks and Gabriel has built a relationship with the Oregon legend. The two share Hawaiian roots, Gabriel being from Mililani, in the center of Oahu, and Mariota being from Honolulu.
Throughout the season, that relationship has guided Gabriel through the pressure of leading a top-tier program. It's just one of many relationships that Gabriel holds close to his heart.
Oregon head coach Dan Lanning has nothing but good things to say about his veteran quarterback, including how impressed he is by the values that Gabriel has, especially in regard to his connections with his teammates.
Gabriel, Lanning, and the Ducks were set to face the Penn State Nittany Lions in the Big Ten Championship game at 4 p.m. PT on CBS.