No. 1 Oregon met that ranking in its first game since clinching the top spot in the AP Top 25. The Ducks defeated No. 20 Illinois decisively in Eugene, 38-9.
Oregon (8-0, 5-0 Big Ten) collected 469 yards of total offense Saturday, led by quarterback Dillon Gabriel who threw for 291 yards, three touchdowns and an interception on 18-for-26 passing. He also ran for a seven-yard score. Gabriel was eliminated with 8:12 left in the match.
Receiver Tez Johnson had six receptions for 102 yards, while running back Jordan James rushed for 83 yards on 15 carries.
With their toughest Big Ten tests against Ohio State and Illinois over, a 12-0 regular-season record and a berth in the College Football Playoff appear imminent for Oregon. Road games at Michigan and Wisconsin, and home games with Maryland and Washington remain on the Ducks’ schedule.
Dillon Gabriel, now No. 2 in all-time NCAA TD, passes
Gabriel’s three touchdown throws moved him into second place on the all-time NCAA list.
Gabriel’s first TD pass came on Oregon’s opening possession, completing a nine-play, 83-yard drive by hitting Tez Johnson for a 31-yard score.
On the Ducks’ next series, Gabriel Justius found Lowe deep up 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 TD pass moved him past Boise State’s Kellen Moore to rank second in career TD passes with 143. Gabriel has reached his total in 58 games, while Moore has played in 53 games.
The only man ahead of Gabriel now is Case Keenum, who threw 155 TD passes in five seasons (57 games) with Houston.
Gabriel now has 18 touchdown passes in his lone season at Oregon, along with 55 in his two years at Oklahoma and 70 through three seasons at UCF.
