Dillon Gabriel on Oklahoma win over Texas: 'This is why I came here'

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.”

Gabriel finished the game 230-of-38 passing for 285 yards, one touchdown, 14 carries, 113 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown.

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.

Gabriel and the offense embraced chaos in this game against Texas. After a 7-0 lead, the Longhorns’ special teams got in on the fun and scored on a punt block.

However, Oklahoma took a 20-17 lead into the halftime locker room. Gabriel engineered a drive in the third quarter to get the Sooners ahead 27-17 and everyone was feeling good.

Texas chipped away and tied things up. Eventually, the Longhorns had a lead after a late field goal.

But that’s where Gabriel stepped it up for Oklahoma and led the five-play, 75-yard touchdown drive in just 1:02 of game time.

“Embrace the chaos,” head coach Brent Venables told Rowe on the ABC broadcast at halftime. “We talked about that a lot. No pressure is a privilege. Chaos is what this game is all about, always has been …

“Gave up a couple of drives here and in the second quarter, we thought they got some momentum back. But a really great job there. You’d love to convert and get that touchdown (at the end of the half. Now,) we get the ball back.”