Dillon Gabriel opens up on why Oregon won out over "two programs" in his quest for a national championship

Oregon Ducks quarterback Dillon Gabriel opened up about nearly transferring to Ohio State and the excitement for the upcoming clash between the Buckeyes and Ducks during Big Media Day at Lucas Oil Stadium on Thursday.

Dillon Gabriel shared why he chose Oregon over two other top programs in his hunt for a national championship. Ultimately, he decided to join the program after careful consideration.

“I had conversations with two programs on top of Oregon, and kind of just did my due diligence,” Gabriel said. “I think once I did go on that visit to Oregon and was able to see it and be at the facility, talk through things. I think it was one that I couldn't pass up.”

“Like I said, having conversations in alignment immediately and being in my sixth year, knowing what's real and what's not, it was one that I saw right away and had to make a decision.”

Regarding his talk with Buckeyes coach Ryan Day, Gabriel told the press:

“It was good [conversation],” Gabriel said. “I think with anything throughout that process, it's just gaining information on one another, but yeah, I think it's the recruiting process, it is what it is, and I think everyone that was a quarterback in the portal was able to have conversations with different schools.”

The Ohio State Buckeyes are set to take on Gabriel and the Oregon Ducks in an anticipated matchup at Autzen Stadium. This showdown, scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 12, will be the sixth game on the 2024 Oregon football schedule.

Dan Lanning's honest style wins Dillon Gabriel's endorsement

Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning. (Image credit: IMAGN)

Dillon Gabriel openly praised coach Dan Lanning's authenticity and communication style.

“It was the dinners at his house, the golf, just having that time together, meetings in his office, just about life, ball, everything in between,” Gabriel said. [Timestamp - 4:17]

“He's real, he's authentic, he's genuine in the way he communicates,” he said. “I think that allows us to be vulnerable, and that's why that respect and relationships are there.”

As the team prepares for new challenges in a different conference, QB Gabriel compared it to a non-conference schedule, saying:

“To be quite honest, that's kind of reminds you of, like, a non-conference schedule for the first time of learning new people, but, for the most part, there are some benefits for that as well in terms of not knowing each other's DNA and the history of it,” Gabriel said.

According to Ducks QB Dillon Gabriel, learning about new opponents is like starting fresh and there are benefits to not knowing each other’s history.