Baker Mayfield reacts to Dillon Gabriel, 'unreal performance' vs. Texas

There are few things that can cement a player’s legacy in Oklahoma football history quite like an epic performance in the Red River Showdown. Sooners’ quarterback Dillon Gabriel delivered one for the ages on Saturday against the Longhorns, in propelling his team to a 34-30 victory in one of the classic games of the 2023 college football season.

He racked up 398 total yards and two touchdowns (285 passing and 113 rushing). One of Gabriel’s touchdowns was when he connected with Nic Anderson for a three-yard touchdown pass with 15 seconds remaining to lift his team to the heart-stopping 34-30 victory. After the epic performance, former Oklahoma star Baker Mayfield had plenty of words of praise for the dynamic dual threat.

“Gutsy. I think he’s tough as nails. A gutsy guy,” Baker Mayfield told SoonerScoop on the field after the game. “Just how cool, calm, collected he was on the last drive when the stadium is about as loud as it could be, he drives them right down the field and makes it look easy. Unreal. That was awesome.”

It was certainly a masterful performance that won’t be soon forgotten by the fans in Crimson and Cream.

Dillon Gabriel delivered on the biggest of stages for the Sooners

Dillon Gabriel played like a man possessed on Oklahoma’s final drive of the game as the Sooners took down Texas 34-30.

After not being able to play in Red River last year, Gabriel was the hero Saturday afternoon. Gabriel threw the winning touchdown with just 16 seconds to go as Oklahoma improved to 6-0 and knocked off the No. 3 team in the country.

He spoke with ESPN’s Holly Rowe postgame, basking in the glow of an epic victory.

“This is what OU football is all about,” Gabriel said. “This is why I came here, this game. Lots of respect to Texas. They played their butt off … At the end of the day, making plays.”

Rowe asked Gabriel about his winning touchdown throw.

“(They) told me to do whatever it takes,” Gabriel said. “I’m all about OU football, I love this place, this is what college football is all about, let’s go …

“I love my teammates, I love my team. That’s always what I’ve been about. God is good. God is good.”

On the receiving end of things, Nic Anderson caught the game winner late in the fourth quarter. But it was Jalil Farooq who led the team in receiving: five catches for 130 yards.

On3’s Nick Kosko also contributed to this article.