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Dillon Gabriel's Heisman Trophy hopes (likely) crushed in Wisconsin win

So close.

By Connor Muldowney

Nov 16, 2024; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Dillon Gabriel (8) throws a pass during the first quarter against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
Nov 16, 2024; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Dillon Gabriel (8) throws a pass during the first quarter against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images / Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
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Another week, another Oregon football win, but this time it wasn't quite the comfortable one that Duck fans have grown accustomed to.

The Ducks needed a fourth-quarter comeback after trailing Wisconsin 13-6 on the road and they just snuck by the Badgers in Camp Randall, 16-13. A 10-0 fourth-quarter showing by the Ducks was the difference and having a veteran quarterback who can remain calm, cool, and collected even with a deficit on the road in Big Ten play with the No. 1 ranking on the line was critical.

Dillon Gabriel remained calm when it felt like the game was going to get away from the Ducks and he led Oregon to 10 straight points to end the game and a 16-13 win on the road to improve to 11-0.

But in the process of playing a safe game and making that comeback on the road, Gabriel's Heisman hopes essentially flew out the window. And it was to no fault of his own. He really only made one mistake against the Badgers which was an interception, but he didn't have that "Heisman moment" nor did he put up the video game-like numbers he needed to after an average showing against Maryland.

Gabriel has gone from the odds-on favorite to win the Heisman Trophy prior to the Maryland game and now he's fourth with +2500 odds while Travis Hunter is the clear favorite at -380, per DraftKings.

That's not important to Gabriel and while fans might be slightly bummed that he won't be the first Heisman winner at Oregon since Marcus Mariota, but he doesn't care about that. He's just happy that his team is still 11-0 and the Ducks are still in the national title hunt while pacing the Big Ten.

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