Dillon Gabriel shares excitement over return to Orlando for Oklahoma Cheez-It Bowl game

Oklahoma takes on Florida State in Orlando for the Cheez-It Bowl and it’s a homecoming for Sooners’ quarterback Dillon Gabriel. Gabriel transferred to Oklahoma from UCF prior to the UCF after a successful career with the Knights. Now, he gets to play the final game of the season back where it all started.

“Just first off super excited for the opportunity,” Gabriel said of returning to Florida. “But then also, obviously spending time here, just seeing a lot of people that I was here with, which was really fun and then obviously just another opportunity for us to play in a bowl game. So in a bowl game like this, it’s gonna be really fun.”

Gabriel saw the highest of highs while with UCF. Before injuries sidelined him for most of 2021, Gabriel threw 61 touchdowns in his first two seasons with the Knights.

“Just a lot of good memories,” Gabriel said. “And then also just some good weather here in Florida. So that’s a good time. But like I said, just excited for the opportunity and to play in the Cheez-It Bowl against a good FSU team. We’re all excited to be here.”

It was a 6-6 campaign for Oklahoma in 2022. First-year head coach returned to the school after heading up the defense at Clemson, but with expectations sky high for the Sooners, the team underdelivered for most of the year. 

However, Gabriel and his teammates were glad to get a break and more preparation time for one final game this season.

“Just a good amount of time to kind of regroup,” he said. “Get some practice in for the young guys and then get the bodies healthy, which was really good for us. But for the most part, just a good you know, little break for us to get back and then prepare for FSU.”

Gabriel played well through 11 games this season, putting up 2,945 yards, 24 touchdowns, six interceptions and a 63% completion percentage. However, the team went 3-6 after a 3-0 start to the season.

“Coach (Brent) Venables, he was at Oklahoma when I was at Tulsa,” Florida State head coach Mike Norvell said earlier this month. “You kind of just watch his career and all the things he’s accomplished. He’s a great coach. Very passionate. Does a great job with the schematic part and putting his guys in a position to achieve success. All of the great teams and defenses he led there at Clemson. I had to go against him there a year ago.”

But they’ll get a chance to rebound and knock off a top-15 squad in the Seminoles.

Oklahoma (6-6) takes on No. 13 Florida State (9-3) in the Cheez-It Bowl Thursday at 5:30 p.m. ET.