Dillon Gabriel gives impressions of BYU's defense

The Oklahoma Sooners are 8-2 on the year and 5-2 in conference play heading into their Week 12 matchup against the BYU Cougars. Currently, Oklahoma is locked in a four-way tie for second place in the Big 12 conference with the conference’s trinity of state schools: Iowa St., Kansas St., and Oklahoma St. Needless to say, it is imperative that the Sooners leave LaVell Edwards Stadium with the win.

Ahead of Oklahoma’s Saturday afternoon contest with BYU, their star quarterback Dillon Gabriel shared a few thoughts on the Cougars’ defense and the environment he and his Sooner brethren will have to face come Saturday.

“I think they’re really good. Obviously, (I have) played BYU before; we just know what they’re about,” said Gabriel. “They’re very physical, and they’ve played well together; they had a tough stretch, but that place is special. Different kind of unique in college football.

“I just think what it’s all about. Every place kind of has its unique things about it. It’s just how college football is built. Growing up in Hawaii, watching the games, I’ve seen them play a bunch.”

Oklahoma’s coming off of the monster win over West Virginia, drubbing the Mountaineers 59-20. It was Gabriel’s best performance of his collegiate career as he finished the game accounting for an Oklahoma school record of eight touchdowns. If Oklahoma wants to keep their chances at a Big 12 title alive, Gabriel and crew will have to overcome BYU’s physical style of defense and the ruckus environment of their home stadium.

Brent Venables addresses whether Gabriel could return in 2024

In this second season with Oklahoma, Dillon Gabriel has been healthy and the results have paid off. Brent Venables has his team in position to win 10 games, a potentially incredible achievement after last season’s losing record. Gabriel has become a hero in Norman as well, especially after his game-winning drive against Texas at the Cotton Bowl.

While the assumption might be that 2023 might be Gabriel’s last in college football, Venables is not completely shutting the door. When asked if Gabriel could return next year, Venables said there had not been any conversations about it. However, he did note his quarterback’s improvement year over year.

“We haven’t had those conversations,” Venables said. “He’s played a long time, he’s been through a lot. I think a year ago, the talk was ‘He had a good year, why would you want to come back? You could come back and have a bad year.’ But what’s he done? He’s come back and had an even better year.

“He’s played a lot of college football. He’s had to overcome some injuries… We haven’t talked about that, though.”