Oklahoma Football: Dillon Gabriel gets a bump in the Heisman odds

The Red River Rivalry is the place where legends are born. And with 15 seconds left on the clock, Dillon Gabriel cemented his status among the best to ever play in the game.

Gabriel was a perfect 4-for-4 for 58 yards on the drive that put the Sooners in front of the Longhorns for good and kept the Sooners’ undefeated season alive.

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Going into the Cotton Bowl, Gabriel was seen as a long-shot for the Heisman Trophy. He isn’t the favorite, but the win over a top five Texas team gave him a boost.

Let’s take a look at the latest Heisman odds via BetMGM.

After week four, Quinn Ewers had the third-best odds of any player in the country at +600. He was just behind Caleb Williams and Michael Penix Jr. My how quickly things have changed. He’s played well for the most part, but several slow starts and three turnovers vs. Oklahoma have certainly killed his Heisman chances.

Sam Hartman and Cam Ward have also suffered losses with their respective teams. For Hartman, his play has really fallen off in recent losses to Ohio State and Louisville.

Blake Corum is one of just two non-quarterbacks with odds at +5000 or better. The problem with Corum is that his teammate J.J. McCarthy currently has better odds, and there hasn’t been a running back win the award since Derrick Henry in 2015. Only three running backs have won the award since 2000.

Jayden Daniels is playing great football in 2023. The problem is LSU can’t stop anyone and the Tigers have suffered multiple losses. He’ll have an uphill climb to making it to New York.

With a bigger climb than Daniels is Georgia tight end Brock Bowers. It’s rare for a non-quarterback to win the award in the modern era of college football, even more if you play tight end. No “tight end” has ever won the award. The last time an “end” won the Heisman was back in 1949, when Leon Hart won it for Notre Dame.

The problem for J.J. McCarthy and Blake Corum is the perception that Michigan hasn’t played anyone. The other problem is the potential for a split vote even if Michigan runs the table and wins the Big Ten.

Jordan Travis and Drake Maye have their undefeated squads on a collision course in the ACC. They wouldn’t play until the ACC title game. Both are having fantastic seasons, but a trip to New York and the College Football Playoff could be on the line if they meet in December.

Dillon Gabriel earned a bump with a “Heisman moment” in the Red River Rivalry. He was perfect on the game-winning touchdown drive to help lead the Sooners to a win. His numbers stack up with the best in the nation. He’s sixth in passing yards and tied for third in passing touchdowns.

Only Jayden Daniels and Caleb Williams have more combined passing and rushing touchdowns than Gabriel’s 21.

Ad campaign aside, Bo Nix is having a great year for the undefeated Oregon Ducks. They’ve been great offensively to match an improved defense. While some may be pointing to Washington and USC as the favorites, Oregon looks like the best team in the Pac-12, and Bo Nix is a big reason why.

It’s not Caleb Williams fault he plays on a team that has a defense that will keep every game close. He’s playing great football and has been the best player in college football this year. It’s possible USC gets beat at some point, but that shouldn’t take away from the season that the defending Heisman Trophy winner is having.

One way to give your team a chance to win is not to turn the ball over. Michael Penix hasn’t thrown an interception in 2023. He’s second in the nation in passing yards and leading the nation in yards per attempt.

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