Two future Big Ten programs emerge as front-runners for top transfer portal QB

Dillon Gabriel is one of the top quarterbacks in the transfer portal, and a pair of teams about to make their Big Ten debut could be the leaders to land the former UCF recruit.

Per On3, Oregon and USC are the leading candidates to get Gabriel, who played at Oklahoma from 2022-23.

Over the past two seasons, Gabriel played in 24 games and was 496-of-751 (66 percent) for 6,828 yards, 55 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He also had 182 rushing attempts for 688 yards and 18 touchdowns.

Prior to joining the Sooners, he starred for the Knights, totaling 79 touchdowns and 8,429 yards in 26 games.

The Ducks and Trojans are headed to the Big Ten in 2024 without their starting quarterbacks the past two seasons, Bo Nix and Caleb Williams.

Nix was in the final year of his college eligibility, while Williams is expected to be one of, if not the top pick of the 2024 NFL Draft.

Oregon has one of the preeminent NIL collectives in the country, Division Street, and should be a strong contender for all of the big-name quarterbacks on the open market, even if it misses out on Gabriel. USC will be an attractive destination, too, considering head coach Lincoln Riley's track record of developing quarterbacks. 

ESPN's Pete Thamel reports the Ducks "are the favorites" to receive a commitment from Gabriel, but that could change depending on who forks over the most money.

As Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule confessed earlier this year, "A good QB in the portal costs $1 million, $1.5, $2 million."