They arrived one by one, a handful at first, then in groups of dozens, and finally hundreds. Subsequently, the Oregon students proceeded to attempt every phrase in the dictionary as they celebrated their 32-31 victory against No. 2 Ohio State on Saturday night, coating Autzen Stadium like water everywhere. On the field, they sobbed, laughed, and spun. A human-sized mascot was placed on their shoulders, and they performed backflips and crowd surfing, making sure the duck could also partake in the fun.
It was even a query from a female student.
At the top of her lungs, that is, she screamed it.
Gabriel, Dillon f——! He’s not there at all.
For four quarters, Gabriel, the great senior quarterback for No. 3 Oregon, was everywhere. He was nowhere to be found now. The students flooded the field, suckling Gabriel until his head vanished in a flurry of embraces and pats. Gabriel passed for 341 yards and two scores to help the team defeat Ohio State and secure what is likely the biggest victory of the college football season thus far. He didn’t turn the ball over. In the fourth quarter, he deceived the whole Buckeyes defense with a read-option play in which he faked a handoff before slyly navigating his way to a 27-yard touchdown.
These teams may play each other again this year; they are Big Ten rivals as of 2024. It is possible that they will face each other again in the conference championship game and the college football playoffs. Since there are now 12 teams competing in the postseason, an October loss is no longer as devastating, especially if it occurs on the road against a top-five club. However, Ohio State (5-1, 2-1 Big Ten) missed an opportunity to plant its flag in one of the best games of the early season. Consequently, in the closing seconds, quarterback Will Howard had a chance to slide and set himself up for a field goal, but he raced 12 yards to the Oregon 26 and failed to get down in time.
As a result, the Ducks (6-0, 3-0 Big Ten) made a big statement to both the nation and their new league. And so did their quarterback, the 6-foot-lefty Hawaiian. The final three unbeaten teams in the Associated Press top 10 at the beginning of the season are Oregon, Texas, and Penn State.
Oregon Coach Dan Lanning remarked, “You feel like Dillon was out there operating in an empty stadium.” As if it were Tuesday. As if this were just another custom.
Despite the notion that every game is the same among football fans, it was undoubtedly much more significant. A sophomore from Oregon informed a waitress at a café on Friday morning that students were flipping tickets for two thousand dollars. The girl shrugged and claimed that folks are only trying to pay tuition here when the waitress told her that was not possible. Even though $2,000 wasn’t exactly in line with the secondary market, it did illustrate the fabrications surrounding the clubs’ inaugural Big Ten clash.
“College GameDay” on ESPN arrived in Eugene. Some people gathered at 10 p.m. on Friday night in order to receive a television poster, such as “Moo Deng Loves Oregon,” and then they had to wait eight hours for the show to begin. It was difficult to hear the person next to you on Saturday when the Ducks walked out for warmups because of the loud boom, which sounded like a very large explosion.
The total attendance of 60,129 did not miss many performances. The drama didn’t either. Oregon looked like they might have intercepted a crucial completion that wasn’t reviewed during Ohio State’s opening possession. Oregon recovered a surprising onside kick in the second quarter after wide receiver Traeshon Holden of the Ducks was dismissed for spitting at an Ohio State player. Holden’s play was rocking a low liner off a Buckeye. With 326 yards and two touchdowns, Howard finished with 28 of his 35 attempts completed. Gabriel consistently used Evan Stewart against Denzel Burke, a well-known defensive back for the Buckeyes. They made passes of 28, 69, and 17 yards, respectively, while Gabriel also found Tez Johnson for a 48-yard touchdown pass.
With 1:47 remaining, Atticus Sappington’s field goal gave Oregon the lead. Due to a devastating offensive pass interference call, the Buckeyes’ last drive came to an abrupt stop. Then, just a second too late, Howard slid, handing Ohio State coach Ryan Day yet another defeat in the top five. The students then completely ingested Gabriel.
Regarding the situation outside, Gabriel described it as “a lot of F-bombs.” “But that’s understandable.”
Because of the transfer portal and the significant impact of name, image, and likeness (NIL) revenue, teams replace a large portion of their rosters every winter and spring. Gabriel, 23, played three years at Central Florida and two at Oklahoma before deciding to attend Oregon last December. Prior to the season, Stewart, his best option, transferred from Texas A&M. Washington-born cornerback Jabbar Muhammad entered the game after the Huskies advanced to the national championship game but lost their coach to Alabama. Muhammad intercepted Howard’s final throw. This is how the world operates.
However, on evenings like Saturday, a player’s relationship with the institution can develop more quickly. Gabriel crept out of the mosh pit, and approximately forty others followed him up the tunnel. His name was Chanted. All they knew was that they were going with him, but they had no idea where they were headed.
The stadium gave way to the outside at the top of the ramp. With frantic shouts carried by the autumn wind, supporters bent over barricades and reached for their idol. Gabriel gripped his girlfriend’s hand tightly. They crawled along, half-stepping, little by little, behind a police officer. But Gabriel would stop if a child begged to take a picture. He attempted to turn and smile whenever someone shouted at him.
For the length of time will they discuss this game, this evening, the selfie, or the incident when they touched the quarterback’s arm on the frickin’ field?
It varies.
For what length of time is forever?