Dillon Gabriel dishes on game-winning drive vs. Texas, ranking behind Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray

Oklahoma got its biggest win of the Brent Venables era last week at the Cotton Bowl, defeating Texas in the final minute of the Red River Rivalry. Dillon Gabriel came through in a big way to propel the Sooners to the upset victory and into the top five of the AP Top 25.

Gabriel got it done with both his arms and his legs. In addition to his 285 passing yards and a passing touchdown, he notched his first 100-yard rushing game as he ran for 113 yards and found the end zone once on the ground.

But his biggest moment came with 1:17 to go when Gabriel helped lead a 75-yard drive in just five plays, capped by a three-yard touchdown pass to Nic Anderson to eventually give Oklahoma the victory. The message heading into the drive was something out of the Al Davis playbook.

“Just finding a way,” Gabriel told Kelsey Riggs on College Football Live on Tueday. “I think at the end of the day, finding ways is kind of the thing we turn to, and just find a way to win is the big thing we preach. So, man, it was a crazy experience and just happy we were able to come out with a win.”

With his 398 total yards of offense, Gabriel put himself into elite company. He has the third-most total yards by a quarterback in a game against Texas in Oklahoma history, only trailing Kyler Murray and Baker Mayfield.

To be in the same breath as those two, who both went No. 1 overall in the NFL Draft, is quite the achievement for the UCF transfer.

“Man, those are two greats,” Gabriel said. “Just blessed to be a part of it and just the tradition at Oklahoma and everything it’s about, it’s something I’m blessed to be a part of.”

Dillon Gabriel: Red River Rivalry was ‘an atmosphere you dream of playing in’

Gabriel’s best game as a Sooner came at a good time. Not only was it a rivalry game — one of the biggest in the country — but it happened in the most-viewed game of Week 6. More than 7.8 million people tuned to ABC for the game and watched Gabriel put on a show.

To do what he did at a place like the Cotton Bowl, with the 50-50 split of crimson and burnt orange, was a special moment.

“It was great,” Gabriel said. “It’s an atmosphere you dream of playing in. Just having that experience with all the guys, and after the game is something we’ll talk to our families and kids about for the rest of our lives. Something you can’t take away from anyone, and just blessed to be a part of it.”

Of course, with the victory, Oklahoma got to bring the Golden Hat back to Norman for the first time since 2021. The celebration started as soon as the clock hit all zeroes, and Venables wore the trophy on the field afterward.

As for where the Golden Hat is now, Gabriel lost track of it.

“Shoot, I have no clue,” he said. “I do know, hopefully, it’s in the facility and that’s all that matters, finding a way to get the Golden Hat back.”