For the second consecutive season, the Oregon Ducks starting quarterback was a finalist for the prestigious Heisman Trophy. In 2023, Bo Nix found himself in New York, hoping to win the award, and this postseason, quarterback Dillon Gabriel was a finalist for the trophy.
Gabriel, sadly, did not fly home with the trophy (similarly to Nix) and the award went to Colorado's two-way player Travis Hunter instead. The Oregon Duck finished third in Heisman voting, behind Hunter and Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty.
The Ducks' quarterback received 24 first-place votes, 52 second-place votes, and 340 third-place votes for a total of 516 points. Hunter, the winner of the 2024 Heisman Trophy, earned a resounding 2,231 points and Jeanty received 2,017 points.
The difference between Travis Hunter and Ashton Jeanty votes 😱
— ESPN (@espn) December 15, 2024
It's the smallest margin of victory since 2009❗️ pic.twitter.com/diUXw5fGSh
Head coach Dan Lanning joined Gabriel in New York for the award ceremony, alongside Oregon's offensive coordinator Will Stein. Despite taking the business trip across the country, Lanning received his first commitment from the winter transfer portal.
Dillon Thieneman, former Purdue Boilermaker and the No. 1 safety in this transfer cycle committed to the Ducks on Saturday afternoon, earning Oregon its first commitment during the current portal window – which remains open until Dec. 28.
Oregon lands a commitment from the No. 1 safety in the transfer portal Dillon Thieneman out of Purdue: https://t.co/6qiZY3eU85 pic.twitter.com/VVDIJhxpN4
— Steve Wiltfong (@SWiltfong_) December 14, 2024
The Ducks have seen three players enter the portal from their program including redshirt freshman Tyler Turner as well as true freshmen Jaxson Jones and Jac'Qawn McRoy – McRoy committed to the Arkansas Razorbacks on Friday, Dec. 13.
More Oregon sports news:
The Oregon men's basketball team won its 10th game of the season with an 18-point victory over the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks.
Transfer forward Brandon Angel had a standout game with 15 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 steals. Center Nate Bittle contributed 13 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 blocks. Coming off the bench, Supreme Cook and Jadrien Tracey produced 14 points a piece. Shockingly, star sophomore point guard Jackson Shelstad scored just 1 point in the matchup.
The Oregon women's basketball team is back in action on Tuesday against the Air Force Falcons in their first game since the Ducks lost to then-No. 6 USC on Dec. 7.
Can’t wait to see everyone next week. #GoDucks pic.twitter.com/a9cXMotoaL
— Oregon Women’s Basketball (@OregonWBB) December 9, 2024
The Oregon women's volleyball team was devastatingly knocked out of the NCAA Tournament after taking the No. 1 overall team, the Pittsburgh Panthers, to five sets on Thursday.
Despite the two teams trading sets, Pitt winning the first and third while Oregon won the second and fourth sets, the Panthers opened up a huge lead in the fifth and final set. The Ducks simply couldn't catch up with the Panthers and Pittsburgh walked away with a 3-2 win over Oregon.