EUGENE, Ore. — In a night filled with milestones and achievements, Dillon Gabriel shattered the NCAA record for total career touchdowns as the top-ranked Oregon Ducks secured a 39-18 win against the Maryland Terrapins on Saturday evening.
Gabriel showcased his skill by accumulating 183 passing yards and throwing three touchdown passes, leading Oregon to a commendable record of 10-0, including 7-0 in the Big Ten Conference. The Ducks’ victory also extended their home winning streak to 14 games, solidifying their position as the number one team in the initial College Football Playoff rankings released earlier this week.
The pivotal moment for Gabriel came early in the second half when he connected with Gernorris Wilson for a 3-yard touchdown pass, marking his 179th career touchdown and surpassing the previous record held by Case Keenum, who had 178 touchdowns during his time at Houston from 2007 to 2011. Gabriel capped the night with another touchdown pass, bringing his total to 180.
Maryland, struggling this season with a record of 4-5 (1-5 Big Ten), was coming off a bye following a tough 48-23 defeat to Minnesota. Quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. threw for 206 yards and one touchdown but faced significant challenges as the Terrapins struggled with consistency, having lost five of their last six matchups.
Adding to the Ducks’ challenges, Gabriel played without one of his go-to receivers, Tez Johnson, who suffered a shoulder injury in the previous game against Michigan. Gabriel leaned on Traeshon Holden for support; Holden had an impressive performance the prior week with six catches for 149 yards but briefly left the game against Maryland due to a lower leg injury before returning to the field.
The game began with a 37-yard field goal from Jack Howes, putting Maryland ahead 3-0. Oregon responded with Jordan James’s 3-yard touchdown run, taking the lead at 7-3. A crucial moment for the Ducks came when Jordan Burch sacked Edwards, forcing a fumble that Brandon Johnson returned for a lengthy 62-yard touchdown run.
After Roman Hemby scored on a 1-yard run to bring the Terrapins within four points at 14-10, aided by a pass interference call against Oregon, Gabriel struck back with a 9-yard touchdown pass to Terrance Ferguson. This score tied him with Keenum for the all-time NCAA record in touchdowns responsible for. Gabriel then broke the record early in the second half with a touchdown to Wilson, extending Oregon’s lead to 29-10.
Maryland fought back with a touchdown from Edwards to Octavian Smith Jr. and a successful 2-point conversion early in the fourth quarter, narrowing the score to 29-18. However, an interception later led to Atticus Sappington’s 20-yard field goal for the Ducks, making the score 32-18. Amber Stewart added the final touch with a 17-yard touchdown catch from Gabriel with just under four minutes left in the game.
Dillon Gabriel’s current statistics include 147 career touchdown passes, 32 rushing touchdowns, and one receiving touchdown. In historical context, Maryland has faced the number one team in the country once since 2019, when they took on Ohio State, and they haven’t claimed victory against a top-ranked team since defeating UCLA in 1955.
Next week, the Terrapins will host Rutgers, while Oregon will travel to Wisconsin for their upcoming matchup.