ESPN biggest unanswered question for Oregon in 2024

The 2024 football season may be distant, but anticipation surrounding the Oregon Ducks is already burgeoning. In various national preseason polls, including ESPN’s, the Ducks are positioned as high as No. 3 in the country, trailing only the Georgia Bulldogs and Ohio State Buckeyes.

This Wednesday, a group of ESPN writers delineated the primary inquiries for spring football concerning each of the top 25 teams. For the Oregon Ducks, their focus was on the question, “Who will emerge victorious in the quarterback battle,” as stated by staff writer Paolo Uggetti.

“Bo Nix’s years of eligibility have finally expired, and Oregon will need to play a new quarterback this coming season. In some ways, the biggest spring question for the Ducks has already been answered as coach Dan Lanning & Co. pounced on the transfer portal to bring in not only Dillon Gabriel from Oklahoma but five-star recruit Dante Moore from UCLA. Coming off a 3,660-yard, 30-touchdown season at Oklahoma, Gabriel appears to be the likely choice to start, but Moore’s potential has clearly been unrealized through one season. Moore struggled to lead the Bruins in his first year but showed flashes of what made him one of the top high school quarterbacks in his class. Oregon has national title aspirations, and answering its quarterback question (as well as outfitting an offense around said quarterback) will go a long way toward helping the Ducks actually hoist the trophy.”

Despite Oregon’s acquisition of two prominent quarterbacks this offseason, all indications strongly suggest that Dillon Gabriel will be the starter come Week 1. If you were to ask me, I’d say the likelihood of Gabriel not starting in Week 1 for Oregon is approximately 100-1. Nevertheless, Uggetti’s query wasn’t far off from the underlying theme.

One of the paramount uncertainties for 2024, in my opinion, is how seamlessly Gabriel will integrate into Oregon’s offensive scheme. Despite establishing himself as an elite quarterback over his first five years in college, Gabriel has yet to showcase his abilities in a Ducks uniform, operating under Will Stein’s offensive playbook. For the Ducks to achieve their objectives next season, Gabriel must consistently deliver outstanding performances.

Dan Lanning evidently holds the belief that Gabriel can propel Oregon to new heights, as evidenced by his recruitment into the program. With Gabriel at the helm next year, the offensive dynamics will undergo significant changes compared to the Nix era, which bodes well. Gabriel must imprint his identity on the team, and if he succeeds, Oregon will surpass its previous limitations.