Dillon Gabriel stood in the Rose Bowl locker room, the weight of the moment pressing down on his shoulders like never before. His eyes drifted across the sleek uniforms, the bright red and gold of the Oregon Ducks reflecting in the room’s polished mirrors. The buzz outside was palpable—the Rose Bowl was finally upon them, a battle between his Ohio State Buckeyes and a team he had always respected but never faced directly. But this year, it was different. Gabriel wasn’t just a quarterback anymore; he was the architect of a narrative, a writer of his own destiny.
With the stadium filled to the brim with thousands of roaring fans, this was his stage. He knew Oregon’s defense was formidable, led by their hard-hitting front seven and a secondary that could blanket receivers like no other. But Gabriel, ever the optimist, saw it as a challenge. A challenge he was determined to conquer. Bold predictions swirled through his mind, each more daring than the last.
The first one came swiftly: Dillon Gabriel was going to break the Rose Bowl passing record. He had already broken multiple school records at Ohio State, and the thought of doing so on the grandest of stages exhilarated him. Oregon’s defense had their strengths, but no secondary had ever been able to completely stifle the Buckeyes’ aerial assault when Gabriel was in his prime. With his pinpoint accuracy and ability to read defenses, he knew he could exploit their weaknesses.
Next, Gabriel predicted a blowout. This might have seemed arrogant, especially considering Oregon’s explosive offense, led by their star quarterback, Bo Nix. But Dillon wasn’t fazed. He was confident in his team’s preparation. Ohio State’s offense had been unstoppable all season, and he could see the Ducks’ defense tiring under the constant barrage of fast-paced play and deep shots downfield. Gabriel was determined to keep the pressure on, never allowing them to settle. Oregon’s defensive line might be tough, but Dillon Gabriel had mobility, and he wasn’t afraid to take off when the pocket collapsed.
“I see us winning this by three touchdowns,” Gabriel whispered to himself, envisioning a dominant performance. He pictured his receivers—Marvin Harrison Jr., Julian Fleming, and Emeka Egbuka—leaping into the end zone one after another, their celebrations captured in a blur of red and silver. Gabriel knew he was the key to unlocking their success, and he relished the opportunity.
There was another prediction, one that came to him late at night, when he thought about the bigger picture. Ohio State wasn’t just playing for a bowl victory; they were playing for a national championship berth. Gabriel had been the catalyst for their success all season, and this Rose Bowl was more than just a final game. It was a stepping stone to something greater. He saw the Buckeyes making a dramatic run in the College Football Playoff, his name etched alongside the greats of Ohio State history. Gabriel had always believed in the power of momentum, and the Rose Bowl victory would be the spark.
But the most audacious prediction, the one he kept close to his chest, was that this game would mark his arrival into the Heisman conversation. A few weeks ago, he was a dark horse—just another name in a crowded field. But after this performance, after taking down a top-tier Oregon squad and leading Ohio State to a convincing win, he saw himself as the frontrunner.
Dillon Gabriel wasn’t just hoping for victory in the Rose Bowl; he was ready to make history. He knew the moment had arrived. It was his time to leave his mark on college football—bold predictions or not.