No. 1 Oregon is advancing in its Big Ten matchup with No. 20 Illnois, leading 35-3 at halftime.
As expected with a score like that, Ducks quarterback Dillon Gabriel is putting up big numbers. After two quarters of play, he has 246 yards and three touchdowns on 16-of-20 passing. With those three touchdown throws, he moved into second place on the NCAA’s all-time list. via Matt Baker of The Athletic.
Dillon Gabriel passes Kellen Moore for the second-most touchdown passes in NCAA history (143). Just follow Case Keenum. Huge squat in Illinois
– Matt Baker (@MattBakerCFB) October 26, 2024
Gabriel’s first touchdown pass came on Oregon’s first possession, completing a nine-play, 83-yard drive by hitting Tez Johnson for a 31-yard score.
On the Ducks’ next drive, Gabriel found Justius Lowe deep down the middle for a 34-yard touchdown.
And just before halftime, Noah Whittington caught a two-yard pass from Gabriel for another Oregon touchdown. Gabriel also ran for a score in the first half, putting the Ducks up 21-3.
Gabriel’s third touchdown pass moved him past Kellen Moore for second place on the NCAA’s all-time touchdown passes list with 143. The only man in front of Gabriel now is Case Keenum, who threw 155 passes touchdown during his career.
He now has 18 touchdown passes in his lone season at Oregon, along with 55 in his two years at Oklahoma and 70 over three seasons at UCF.
Can Gabriel finish on top? He has half left against Illinois. Then, Michigan, Maryland, Wisconsin and Washington remain on Oregon’s regular season schedule for 2024. After that, a College Football Playoff run awaits.