Heisman Trophy Odds Post-CFB Spring Games: Oregon's Dillon Gabriel vs. SEC Quarterbacks

Oregon Football quarterback Dillon Gabriel is a favorite to win the Heisman Trophy in 2024, along with SEC Conference quarterbacks Carson Beck and Quinn Ewers.
Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel throws the ball during the Oregon Ducks’ Spring Game Saturday,
Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel throws the ball during the Oregon Ducks’ Spring Game Saturday, / Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA

Oregon Ducks quarterback Dillon Gabriel has the third-best odds to win the Heisman Trophy for the 2024 college football season. Updated after college football spring games, the highly-touted transfer quarterback has high expectations for the Ducks’ inaugural season in the Big Ten Conference, which is expanding to include 18 total schools in 2024. 

Good news is, Gabriel is already developing chemistry with his star playmakers and settling into Oregon coach Dan Lanning’s established winning culture. Gabriel’s 10-1 Heisman odds are boosted by possibly Oregon’s best and deepest receiving corps ever. 

Dillon Gabriel, Quinn Ewers, Carson Beck are all Heisman Trophy favorites for the 2024 college football season.
Dillon Gabriel, Quinn Ewers, Carson Beck are all Heisman Trophy favorites for the 2024 college football season. /

Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Carson Beck overtook Texas Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers for the odds-on favorite to win the Heisman Trophy this spring, according to FanDuel.  With Texas joining the SEC Conference this season, Ewers' Longhorns with host Georgia on October 19th.

New conference, new team but same quarterback rivalries for Gabriel. Last season, Gabriel the wind out of Ewers’ Heisman campaign. Gabriel led the Oklahoma Sooners to a 34-30 victory over Quinn’s Longhorns in the Red River Rivalry game. 

Gabriel has all the puzzle pieces at Oregon to make a run at the Big Ten Conference title and the College Football Playoff in 2024. Gabriel facing off against Ewers in the CFP would be ironic and captivating.

How would Gabriel describe receivers Tez Johnson, Evan Stewart, Traeshon Holden plus tight end Terrance Ferguson?

"Talented. Talent is not going to be our limitation,” Gabriel said during Oregon’s spring practices. “To us, it's always how can you be one-up in the mental game. Know your job cold. Continue to push and find answers. Whether it's on the fly or pre-snap communication. I think that's something you can never be too good… Knowing your job cold.”

The 6-foot, 204-pound Gabriel has started 49 games over his five-year career that includes stops at UCF and Oklahoma. Those 49 career starts (in 50 total games) entering 2024 are just 12 behind the NCAA record for a quarterback of 61 set by former Oregon quarterback Bo Nix. 

Gabriel boasts a 63.1 completion percentage for a total of 14,865 (!) passing yards with 125 touchdowns against just 26 interceptions.

A key factor in Gabriel’s growth at Oregon is his development with Duck offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Will Stein. After the Oregon football spring game on Saturday, Gabriel raved about Stein. 

“Great communication and great trust, and I think that is really the biggest thing with the quarterback and (offensive coordinators) relationship,” Gabriel said.

Gabriel added that “this is a great environment to walk into. Coach Stein is the main man, and I can’t thank him enough and how blessed I am to be coached by him, be pushed by him. He demands a lot but the connection we have is huge.”  

Last season, Nix was a Heisman Trophy finalist. Odds are, the Ducks will have another finalist in 2024. 

Dec 9, 2023; New York, New York, USA; Heisman hopefuls (left to right) LSU Tigers quarterback Jayden
Dec 9, 2023; New York, New York, USA; Heisman hopefuls (left to right) LSU Tigers quarterback Jayden / Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.

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Bri Amaranthus
BRI AMARANTHUS

Bri Amaranthus is an Emmy-winning sports reporter with over 12 years of experience in television, radio, podcasting, and digital sports journalism. She has been with Sports Illustrated for four years, providing breaking news, exclusive interviews, and analysis on the NFL, college sports, and the NBA. Prior to joining SI, Bri hosted NBC Sports Northwest's prime-time television show, where she also served as the Oregon beat reporter and created content covering both the NBA and college sports. Throughout her career, Bri has achieved significant milestones, including covering major events like the NBA Finals, NFL playoffs, College Football Playoff, NCAA Basketball Tournament, NFL Draft, and the NFL Combine. She earned a D1 scholarship to play softball at the University of San Diego and won two state softball titles in high school in Oregon. In addition to her Emmy win for NBC's All-Star Coach special, she has received multiple Emmy nominations, highlighting her dedication and talent in sports journalism.