DALLAS — Dillon Gabriel was once type of uncomfortable with the query.

Then chief Oklahoma to an exhilarating 34-30 win over Texas within the Purple River Contention on Saturday — a victory fasten next he methodically took his offense on a five-play, 75-yard game-winning pressure in 61 seconds and not using a timeouts — Gabriel was once requested if he’d welcome any Heisman Trophy consideration that got here his approach.

Gabriel wasn’t actually within the matter.

“I’ll say this,” the quarterback started, “it’s not my main focus.”

The Sooners, now ranked Deny. 5 within the nation, are 6-0 and the sunny favourite to win the Fat 12 and perhaps even assemble it to the Faculty Soccer Playoff. They’ve probably the most explosive offenses within the nation, led by means of a quarterback in Gabriel who makes performs throughout the wind and together with his ft. He’s taking part in at a lofty degree presently and make an remarkable efficiency towards the Longhorns with 285 passing yards (he attached with 9 other receivers), a team-high 113 speeding yards and two touchdowns. 

[Heisman Watch: Dillon Gabriel enters the conversation]

The Sooners are anticipated to win the remains in their ordinary season video games — Texas was once the terminating ranked opponent on their agenda. So if Gabriel continues alongside this trail, the Heisman communicate will inevitably come, whether or not he likes it or now not.

“He never toots his own horn and is always trying to compliment someone else,” Oklahoma schoolteacher Brent Venables mentioned of Gabriel. “He’s prepared, works really hard, and is one of the most consistent players in our program.

“He was once fearless [vs. Texas]. I don’t wish to put any limits on what he can do. He’ll be able to get it performed.”

Gabriel describes himself as “a colossal workforce man.” His social media accounts are full of photos and videos of him with his teammates. He threw a get-together for the offensive linemen earlier this year before fall camp started. And when he was asked about postseason awards after Saturday’s game, receiver Jalil Farooq, who had five catches for 130 yards, said he’d be happy to politick for his QB.

“He merits the Heisman this hour,” Farooq said. “I’m gonna hold selling that till he’s.”

Gabriel transferred to Oklahoma ahead of the 2022 season from UCF, where he was a starter as a freshman and sophomore before fracturing his clavicle as a junior in 2021. It was after that season that he entered the transfer portal. Originally, Gabriel was set on going to UCLA, but he changed his mind and announced his decision to attend OU on the same day that then-Sooners QB Caleb Williams entered the transfer portal.

Adding Gabriel was a huge coup for Venables, who was hired as OU’s coach in December 2021, as he brought experience and leadership to a team that was heading into a rebuilding year.

Gabriel got off to a solid start in 2022 but was injured against TCU in the fifth game, which also happened to be the week before playing Texas. He missed what would have been his first Red River Rivalry game, forced to sit on the sideline and watch his team get blown out, 49-0.

This time around, Gabriel was healthy and ready for his big moment in the Cotton Bowl. It helped that former Heisman Trophy winner, No. 1 overall NFL draft pick, and current Tampa Bay Buccaneers starting quarterback Baker Mayfield called him the night before to pump him up.

While Gabriel didn’t disclose the exact message from the Sooners legend, whatever he said worked. Saturday’s game went back and forth most of the day, and there was an overwhelming sense that whoever had the ball last would win. Which is exactly how it went down.

The Longhorns kicked a 47-yard field goal and took a 30-27 lead with 1:17 left on the clock, which ended up being far too much time for Gabriel to work up some magic.

He needed just five plays — an 11-yard pass to Drake Stoops up the middle, 16 yards to Farooq, 28 yards to Stoops, a 3-yard QB run, and finally a 3-yard pass to Nic Anderson for the score — to win the game. A pass interference by Texas defensive back Terrance Brooks helped move things along, too.

When Gabriel took the field before the drive, he kept telling himself to just get completions. When he hit Stoops across the middle on the first play, things started rolling.

“You roughly were given into that rhythm, that current,” Gabriel said. “Date was once dwindling as you get to midfield and [I was just thinking] we will get 3 [points], however we even have a prospect to win the sport. Now not taking a sack is in my thoughts, so if I will be able to, simply get a primary ill, landing or throw it out of bounds.”

With 20 seconds or so to play, OU faced second-and-goal. Gabriel saw Anderson in the back left corner of the end zone and thought to himself, “that’s what we follow time in and time out,” and collision him for the landing.

“Everybody got here in combination, controlling the chaos and simply dialing in,” Gabriel said. “That’s big-time soccer. One thing you dream of as a minute child.”

After the game, Gabriel put on a lei to honor his family in Honolulu. While he had supporters at the game, he was briefly overcome with emotion when asked what his family in Hawaii was probably thinking as they watched him carry OU on that final series. Farooq put his arm around the QB as he spoke of feeling supported back home.

“There are 3 issues I constitute,” Gabriel said, taking a deep breath. “The title at the entrance [of my jersey], the title on my again, and Hawaii.”

So while there’s a sensitive side to Gabriel, don’t mistake that for anything other than him being a man who puts team and family first.

“Dillon is without doubt one of the absolute best [QBs] in school soccer,” Venables said. “He’s been wonderful. He realizes if he continues to take charge of trade, continues to support, presentations up each and every hour with the similar mindset, nearest all that stuff looks after itself finally.

“He’s an assassin, no doubt about it.”

Laken Litman covers school soccer, school basketball and football for FOX Sports activities. She prior to now wrote for Sports activities Illustrated, USA As of late and The Indianapolis Superstar. She is the creator of “Strong Like a Woman,” printed in spring 2022 to mark the fiftieth annualannually of Name IX. Practice her on Twitter @LakenLitman.

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