Dillon Gabriel is on tempo to interrupt Bo Nix’s file.
Nix grew to become a Heisman finalist a season in the past as he set the NCAA file for completion share. Nix was 364-of-470 passing in 2023 as he accomplished 77.45% of his throws to interrupt Mac Jones’ file of 77.36%.
After Nix left for the NFL, Gabriel transferred to Oregon for his closing season of school soccer and is someway finishing a better share of passes than Nix did. By way of 5 video games thus far, Gabriel has accomplished 77.8% of his passes and is 130-of-167 passing for 1,449 yards.
Gabriel at all times appeared like an ideal slot in Oregon’s offensive scheme as soon as he introduced his intention to switch. He accomplished 69% of his passes a season in the past and threw for a career-high 3,660 yards in 12 video games for the Sooners. He even grew to become the betting favourite for the Heisman over the summer time.
Nonetheless, Gabriel hasn’t asserted himself as a Heisman favourite thus far. Gamers like Ashton Jeanty and Travis Hunter have starred in non-quarterback roles, Cam Ward has led Miami to an undefeated begin after transferring from Washington State, and Jalen Milroe has continued his progress as a passer in his first season taking part in for Kalen DeBoer at Alabama.
All 4 of these gamers are forward of Gabriel (+1400) in BetMGM’s odds, although Gabriel has an awesome likelihood to leapfrog all of them with an announcement recreation on Saturday evening.
The No. 3 Geese host No. 2 Ohio State within the first top-three matchup of the season. The Buckeye protection enters the sport permitting opposing quarterbacks to throw for simply 130 yards a contest and solely Marshall and Michigan State have thrown for TDs.
Gabriel can also be coming off his worst recreation of the season. Gabriel threw two picks and accomplished simply 63% of his throws in Oregon’s Friday evening win over Michigan State in Week 6 after finishing over 80% of his throws in every of the Geese’ first three video games of the season.
If Gabriel can method or surpass that 80% mark towards Ohio State, it’s laborious to see how Oregon loses on Saturday evening, or how Gabriel received’t be the frontrunner for the Heisman on the midpoint of the season.
Listed below are 4 different gamers we’re preserving our eye on forward of Week 7.
Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty: We’re already operating out of superlatives for Jeanty’s performances this season. He’s the deserved Heisman favourite forward of Boise State’s recreation at Hawaii as he’s averaging practically 11 yards a carry and is the one operating again to cross the 1,000-yard mark thus far this season. Simply look what he did on his first carry towards Utah State.
If you’d like some perspective on how significantly better Jeanty has been than his friends, he’s 260 yards forward of Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson, the No. 2 speeding chief. Johnson and North Carolina’s Omari Hampton are the one two different operating backs who’ve greater than 700 yards speeding and solely 13 gamers have run for over 600 yards this season. Marshall’s A.J. Turner is the one different operating again averaging over 10 yards a carry, however he’s rushed 42 occasions thus far this season. Jeanty has 95 carries and should not play the whole recreation Saturday evening towards Hawaii if the Broncos soar out to a giant early lead.
Colorado DB/WR Travis Hunter: How sustainable is Hunter’s manufacturing stage on each side of the ball? We’re about to search out out as Colorado will get into the meat of its schedule. The Buffaloes host No. 18 Kansas State late Saturday evening earlier than a visit to Arizona in Week 8. Hunter is the staff’s main receiver with 46 catches for 561 yards — no different Colorado participant has greater than 23 catches — and is tied for the staff lead with two interceptions.
Penn State QB Drew Allar:The junior has proven actual progress in his first season underneath offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki. Allar is finishing nearly 71% of his passes and averaging 10.7 yards a throw. He accomplished lower than 60% of his passes a season in the past and solely averaged 6.8 yards an try. Penn State’s offense hasn’t relied on him to throw the ball rather a lot thus far; the 24 passes he threw in Week 6 towards UCLA have been essentially the most he’s tried all season. But when he continues to be environment friendly and Penn State continues to win, search for Allar to get some Heisman votes like Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy did a season in the past. The Nittany Lions play at USC on Saturday.
LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier: The primary-year starter has an awesome likelihood to vault into the thick of the Heisman dialogue with a giant efficiency towards Ole Miss on Saturday evening. Nussmeier isn’t the dual-threat that Heisman winner Jayden Daniels was a season in the past, however he’s been a incredible passer thus far this season at a excessive quantity. Nussmeier has tried 198 passes over 5 video games and has accomplished practically 70% of these for 1,652 yards and 15 TDs to only 4 interceptions.
