To win the Big Ten championship, Penn State has to beat No. 1 Oregon, and coach James Franklin gave his thoughts on that teamโs quarterback, Dillon Gabriel.
Franklin said it feels like Gabriel has been playing college football โfor like the last 10 years,โ and itโs hard to argue.
Gabriel is in his sixthโ yes, sixthโ college football season not just as a player, but as a starting quarterback.
In that time, heโs had success at UCF (2019-21), Oklahoma (2022-23) and now Oregon. This season has been his best yet. Gabriel ended the regular season as the quarterback of the only 12-0 team in America. His individual numbers measure up, too. Gabriel has thrown 24 touchdowns to just six interceptions, completing 73.5% of his passes. Thatโs the second-highest in the country behind Coloradoโs Shedeur Sanders).
This added up to Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year for Gabriel. Heโs also one of three finalists for the Davey OโBrien Award, presented annually to the nationโs top QB. The other two are Sanders and Miamiโs Cam Ward.
All of this spells challenge for Penn State, and hereโs what the PSU boss had to say about it.
WHAT JAMES SAID
Photo by Matt Lynch, Nittany Sports Now: James Franklin
โFor me, the thing the stands out about him, it seems like heโs been playing college football for like the last 10 years and heโs just so poised and relaxed. You watch him play, he just looks so relaxed and so poised. Youโre not going to give him a whole lot that he hasnโt seen before, and heโs surrounded with really good talent. The running backs are really good. The tight end is a really good player. The receivers are dynamic. So, heโs put himself in really good situations. But heโs played a ton of football. Heโs an experienced quarterback. Their play caller does a really good job of getting people the ball in space, and he looks very comfortable and relaxed. Because of that, heโs thrown for a very high percentage. You very rarely ever see him get rattled, and heโs throwing to guys that can make plays for him. So itโs a combination of skill, itโs a combination of scheme and itโs a combination of the guys that he has around him, plus experience.โ
THE PLAYERS AROUND HIM
EUGENE, OR – NOVEMBER 30: Oregon Ducks wide receiver Tez Johnson (15) celebrates a touchdown with Oregon Ducks wide receiver Traeshon Holden (1) during a college football game between the Washington Huskies and Oregon Ducks on November 30, 2024 at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Brian Murphy/Icon Sportswire)
Now, Oregon wouldnโt be the No. 1 team in the country if Gabriel were doing it all alone. At receiver, Tez Johnson (685 yards, nine touchdowns on 67 receptions), Evan Stewart (613 yards, five touchdowns on 48 receptions) and Traeshon Holden (581 yards, three touchdowns on 36 receptions) are all quality. Oregon also has two capable tight ends in Terrance Ferguson (35 catches, 490 yards, two touchdowns) and Kenyon Sadiq (21 catches, 268 yards).
Oregon can also get it done on the ground Jordan Jamesย (1,116 yards, 13 touchdowns on 206 carries) and Noah Whittington (455 yards, five touchdowns, 4.7 YPC). So, yeah, Penn State has a fight on its hands.
Penn State and Oregon will play for the Big Ten Championship Saturday night. Kickoff is scheduled for 8 on Fox.
