Oregon
Dillon Gabriel's six-season journey could have storybook ending at Oregon
Quarterback Dillon Gabriel has spent his college career searching for the perfect fit.
His six-season odyssey has been long and arduous, crossing the Pacific Ocean and spanning coast to coast — stretching from his home state of Hawaii to Orlando, Fla., to Norman, Okla., and finally to Eugene, Ore.
Every move, decision, triumph and setback has led him to Pasadena, where he faces a win-or-go-home Rose Bowl showdown against Ohio State (11-2). Gabriel will either guide Oregon (13-0) one step closer to a championship or close the chapter on his college career.
“You wish you had him for longer, but we’re happy with his progress,” Oregon offensive coordinator Will Stein said. “When he’s out on the field, he makes everybody feel at ease because of his leadership, because he’s seen it all.”
Gabriel’s career combines longevity — thanks to extended eligibility from a season-ending injury and a COVID-19 year — with veteran decision-making that has solidified him as the leader of the No. 1 team, which defeated the Buckeyes 32-31 in October.
When evaluating talent, Ducks coach Dan Lanning emphasizes to his staff the importance of finding individuals who are searching for the best fit — not the most convenient — and willing to make sacrifices.
Nearly a year before winning the Big Ten championship, Lanning found his guy in Gabriel. The coach welcomed an undersized, often-dismissed talent who had bounced around with varying degrees of success, searching for a fit in his final year of eligibility.
To make this last stop count, Gabriel made the necessary sacrifices that Lanning sought. Throughout the season, he repeatedly demonstrated the toughness to handle last-minute drives and difficult down-and-distance situations, according to Lanning.
“Nothing fazes him, that’s the cool thing about him,” Stein added.
Gabriel had shown the skills to succeed during his prolific start at Central Florida and his two-year stint at Oklahoma, year after year passing for more than 3,500 yards and 25 touchdowns.
He’s brought that ability to Oregon, posting similar numbers. But more importantly, he has showcased intangibles like “toughness” and “poise” — traits that have impressed Lanning and his staff the most.
Gabriel’s extended college career has fostered his maturity and veteran leadership, which have become defining traits. Having just celebrated his 25th birthday Saturday, he is the same age or older than some of the NFL’s rising quarterbacks, including Brock Purdy, Jayden Daniels and C.J. Stroud.
“You never know how tough somebody is until you’re in the trenches with them,” Stein said. “You really don’t know them until you’re in the game, and how tough he is has been extremely impressive.”
Inheriting a championship-caliber program with only one year to make an impact, Gabriel needed to quickly embrace his role, build relationships and earn teammates’ trust.
“His ability to connect with his teammates is unlike anybody I’ve been around,” Stein said. “He treats the eighth-string walk-on like he’s a first-string starter. … He’s truly a unique individual, and I’m really glad he’s on our team.”
From Day 1, tight end Terrance Ferguson, one of Gabriel’s many offensive weapons, knew they would click.
“As soon as I knew I was coming back and he was going to be the quarterback, I said we’re going to be best friends no matter what,” Ferguson said. “We became best friends, and anytime he wanted to throw the ball, I was there. It didn’t matter if it was in Hawaii, L.A., or in our backyard.”
The two built strong chemistry on and off the field. Even their fiancées became close friends, often joining the duo for dinner as couples.
Gabriel’s dedication to the Ducks has paid off.
A record-breaking season? Check.
He passed Case Keenum’s all-time total touchdown record with 187 and is on the verge of breaking even more of Keenum’s marks. He needs three passing touchdowns to pass the 155-touchdown milestone and only 794 passing yards to claim the all-time record (19,217).
A Heisman Trophy finalist? Check.
Gabriel finished third in voting, becoming just the fifth Oregon player to be a finalist and the second Hawaiian-born player in school history, joining 2014 winner Marcus Mariota, whom Gabriel idolized growing up.
One accomplishment has eluded him — winning a national championship. Much like his search for the perfect fit, he still seeks the fulfillment that makes every move, decision, triumph and setback worthwhile.
“To be in these moments you dream of and want to be in,” Gabriel said, “it’s something I’ve been preparing my whole entire life for. … You know the opportunity at hand and what’s at stake, that all goes into what’s to come.”
Once again, fate has pitted him against a team he previously defeated, leading his squad on a thrilling 74-yard drive to set up the go-ahead field goal. In that game, he delivered a Heisman-caliber performance, completing 23 of 34 passes for 341 yards and two touchdowns while adding a 27-yard touchdown run.
But as he looks ahead to Wednesday’s game, he doesn’t dwell on the past.
“Nothing in the past can help you in the future,” Gabriel said. “Maybe try and see if you could do something different here and there. But that’s why it’s history.”
Prepared as always, Gabriel now leads a battle-tested, confident team, carrying the trust of his coaches and teammates as he strives to keep the journey alive for one more game.
“We have the best quarterback in the country that’s going to go out there and play his best on a big stage,” Stein said.
Oregon lawmakers have a new roadmap for tackling racism as a public health issue, and it’s packed with more than 100 recommendations for the 2027 legislative session.
According to KGW8, the Oregon Advocacy Commissions Office released the four-year report this week, built on input from more than 200 Oregonians of color and developed alongside the Oregon Health Authority. It digs into how Black, Indigenous, and other communities of color face unequal access to stable jobs, education, health care, and housing — the everyday conditions that shape locals’ lives.
“This is an opportunity for state government to earn trust with communities of color who have been historically excluded,” said executive director of the Oregon Advocacy Commissions Office, Jeff Selby, per the outlet. “The report process is a model for community engagement, as we all work together toward meaningful outcomes in community.”
State Rep. Travis Nelson said the findings have already shaped legislation, with several bills signed into law over the past two sessions covering topics like culturally specific health services and school staffing diversity. One concrete example: After residents flagged that Spanish-speaking applicants were passing the DMV’s written driving test at a rate of roughly 21%, versus 51% for English speakers, organizers connected the DMV with community groups to address the gap.
The report dates back to 2021, when Oregon lawmakers formally declared racism a public health crisis. “Racism in Oregon has left a legacy of trauma from one generation to the next, impacting Oregon tribes, Black and indigenous communities and people of color through a cumulative effect,” a section of the declaration reads.
A separate report from the Commonwealth Fund found Oregon has more severe racial and ethnic health disparities than its neighbors in the West, with Native American, Black, and Hispanic residents lagging behind white and Asian American residents on access, quality, and outcomes. Researchers warned that federal changes to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act since 2025 could make those gaps worse, not better.
The Oregon Advocacy Commissions Office says the goal now is turning research into real policy before lawmakers reconvene — and building trust with communities that have historically been left out of the process.
The full report can be seen here.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A former Oregon corrections officer received a lifetime hunting ban on Wednesday after pleading guilty to several poaching-related charges.
Christopher Mason, 49, of Umatilla, was sentenced in two separate court cases to 24 months of probation and 300 hours of community service. He was also fined over $114,000 and was required to forfeit his firearms.
Oregon State Police said they began investigating Mason in 2024 after receiving information that he had been poaching big game animals.
“In February 2025, OSP served a search warrant, and multiple big game animals and firearms were seized as evidence. Sixty-seven criminal charges were referred for prosecution,” officials said. “The charges spanned multiple counties.”
Mason pleaded guilty to four counts of unlawful take of buck deer and three counts of unlawful take of black bear on June 18. In a separate case on June 26, he pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a short-barreled rifle, unlawful possession of a silencer, unlawful possession of multiple wildlife and unlawful take of mule deer.
“This is another example of serial poaching which rises to the level of felony conduct based solely on the repeated poaching conduct and impact of one individual on Oregon’s game mammals,” prosecutor Jay Hall said. “The conduct across the several counties amounts to one of the highest damage amounts done to Oregon wildlife by any singular actor.”
SEATTLE — With national firefighting resources already stretched to their limits, statewide fire restrictions remain in effect for all Bureau of Land Management public lands throughout Washington and Oregon, with some local regions also implementing additional emergency closures.
As the Independence Day holiday weekend approaches, officials warned that people responsible for starting wildfires could face up to $100,000 in fines, 12 months in prison, and liability for all firefighting suppression costs.
SEE ALSO | Washington braces for earlier wildfire season due to low snowpack: ‘Worse than normal’
“There are serious consequences for starting a wildfire, including fines and possibly imprisonment, which we hope everyone can avoid through careful choices,” said Josh O’Connor, Northwest Geographic Area Fire Chief for the U.S. Wildland Fire Service. “We have already experienced excruciating loss this season. I cannot stress the gravity of the situation enough. Please help protect our firefighters and communities.”
Officials urged visitors to research their destinations in advance, noting that local restrictions can determine when power tools may be used, what kinds of stoves or campfires are allowed, and what safety equipment is required.
The BLM said the following items remain strictly prohibited on all BLM lands in Oregon and Washington: fireworks and sky lanterns; exploding or metallic targets; tracer or incendiary devices; and steel component ammunition, including core or jacket.
“Lighting a firework or leaving a smoldering campfire creates significant wildland fire risk. Under the right conditions, they easily start wildfires,” said Kim Prill, BLM Oregon/Washington acting state director. “Don’t risk it. Let’s work together to prevent every wildfire possible.”
More information on seasonal fire restrictions and fire closures is available HERE.
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