Dillon Gabriel and the Oregon Ducks have been rolling all season long, and that continued in Week 8 with their 35-0 victory over Purdue, which was a nice change of pace after their nail-biting 32-31 win against Ohio State in Week 7.
With the win, and Texas losing to Georgia in Week 8, Oregon ended up being ranked the No. 1 team in the nation in the latest AP Top 25 poll, which goes to show just how good they have been this season.
The team’s No. 1 ranking is certainly a high honor, but it’s not the ultimate goal the Ducks have set out to accomplish this season. That’s something Gabriel is well aware of, which is why he didn’t seem to care too much about Oregon’s No. 1 ranking in the latest poll.
Gabriel is well aware of how narratives surrounding teams across the sports world can change with the snap of a finger, so while everyone may be praising Oregon right now, that could change if they lose their next game.
Similar issues have plagued teams such as Texas, Georgia, and Alabama throughout the year. At one point, they were all the No. 1 ranked college football team in the nation, but losses drastically changed how they were viewed by fans.