Dillon Gabriel explains how he handles Heisman Trophy hype after big performance

Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel just authored a big-time conference win on a national stage and is now a serious part of the Heisman Trophy conversation.

But, as he reminded “The Triple Option” podcast Wednesday, he’s been here before.

Last year at Oklahoma, Gabriel orchestrated a 75-yard game-winning drive in just over a minute of game time to pry victory away from then-No. 3 Texas in a Red River Rivalry classic. He ran for 113 yards in the last-second, 34-30 win. He also threw for 285 yards and a touchdown pass with 15 seconds left that sealed the deal in the Cotton Bowl.

Gabriel’s midseason heroics thrust him into the Heisman spotlight with the Sooners. He’s back in it with the Ducks after another head-turning midseason victory, now trailing only Boise State running backs Ashton Jeanty in FanDuel’s Heisman Trophy odds.

Former NFL and Alabama running back Mark Ingram II asked Gabriel if he’s thought about the magnitude of now-No. 2 Oregon’s 32-31 triumph over now-No. 4 Ohio State in Autzen Stadium last Saturday.

“I try not to, to be quite honest,” Gabriel said. “I’ve been in this situation before last year, and you just continue to try and stay focused. And I’ve continued to emphasize with the guys — and coach has done a great job of it, too — just living week-to-week and just being rooted in our process of preparing the right way and not taking anything for granted.

“The beauty in the game we play is every week you gotta come to play. And you’re only as good as your last outing. So I think as I’ve grown up in this college career — the long college career of mine — you just realize that it’s a one-week focus. Getting guys dialed in … the human nature is normal to find the easiest time to relax or when you can take off, but to be different and do something different, there’s got to be some changes to your natural habit. That’s what we’ve been focused on. And for me, too, I’m a guy, I’ll look back down the road, but I’m focused in the now and letting it all take care of itself.”

While Gabriel followed up his monumental Red River Rivalry win in 2023 with another win — against his first team, UCF — his Sooners dropped their next two outings. That took Oklahoma out of the College Football Playoff race, and Gabriel, despite leading Oklahoma to 10 wins and totaling 42 touchdowns (30 passing, 12 rushing), wasn’t a Heisman finalist, nor was he in the top 10 of Heisman voting.

This year at Oregon, Gabriel has another crack at leading his team to the CFP. In the process, he could very well finally become a Heisman finalist — and maybe even win the award.

Through six games this season, Gabriel is completing a career-high 76.1% of his passes. He’s 10th nationally with 1,808 passing yards. Plus, he’s posting a 13:3 touchdown-to-interception ratio. Against Ohio State, he recorded 341 passing yards and three total touchdowns (two passing, one rushing).

Right now, Gabriel is focused on Oregon’s Friday night road game at Purdue. More specifically, he’s focused on the process.

The two-time transfer and sixth-year quarterback is letting everything else take care of itself.