College football has a funny way of making some players feel like they’ve been around forever. Dillon Gabriel is that guy. Seriously. He played so many games across so many different campuses that keeping track of the Dillon Gabriel dates joined for each program is actually kind of a headache for the average fan. By the time he hung up his cleats after the 2024 season, he had started 63 games. That is an FBS record. He didn't just play; he lived through multiple eras of the transfer portal.
Most people think he just hopped around for the highest bidder, but the timeline is way more nuanced than that. It’s a mix of season-ending injuries, coaching carousels, and the weird COVID-19 eligibility rules that gave us "super seniors."
If you're trying to figure out exactly when he landed in Orlando, Norman, or Eugene, you have to look at the messy reality of the NCAA transfer portal. It's never as simple as just "joining" a team on a random Tuesday.
The UCF Era: Where the Numbers Started (2018–2021)
Dillon Gabriel officially joined UCF on December 19, 2018.
He signed his Letter of Intent during the early signing period, coming out of Mililani High School in Hawaii. He was actually a three-star recruit who had previously been committed to Army. Can you imagine him in a triple-option offense? Probably wouldn't have worked out the same way. He enrolled early in January 2019, which turned out to be the smartest move he ever made.
The 2019 Takeover
He wasn't even supposed to start. Brandon Wimbush, a high-profile transfer from Notre Dame, was the guy. But Gabriel was just better. He made his debut on August 29, 2019, against Florida A&M. He came off the bench and basically never looked back.
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- Freshman Year: Threw for 3,653 yards.
- Sophomore Year: Kept the momentum going despite the 2020 chaos.
- The Breaking Point: September 17, 2021.
That was the night everything changed. Playing against Louisville, Gabriel broke his collarbone on the final play of the game. It was a weird, desperate lateral play. He went down, and his season was over. Two months later, on November 27, 2021, he entered the transfer portal.
The UCLA "Commitment" That Never Happened
Here is the part everyone forgets. Gabriel actually committed to UCLA first. On December 16, 2021, he told the world he was heading to the Rose Bowl to play for Chip Kelly. It lasted all of 18 days.
Why the flip? Caleb Williams happened. Well, Caleb Williams leaving Oklahoma happened. When Lincoln Riley bolted for USC and took his star QB with him, Brent Venables needed a savior. He called the kid from Hawaii.
Joining the Oklahoma Sooners (2022–2023)
Dillon Gabriel officially joined Oklahoma on January 3, 2022.
He flipped from UCLA to the Sooners almost instantly once the spot opened up. It made sense. Jeff Lebby, his offensive coordinator back at UCF, had just taken the same job at OU. The familiarity was there. Gabriel stepped into a program in total transition and, honestly, he held them together.
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Norman by the Numbers
He spent two full seasons in Norman. People underappreciate his time there because the team went 6-7 in 2022. But Gabriel was prolific. In 2023, he led them to a 10-2 regular season, including a legendary win over Texas in the Red River Rivalry.
But the "dates joined" saga wasn't over. On December 4, 2023, he hit the portal again. Oklahoma was moving to the SEC, and they had a five-star freshman, Jackson Arnold, waiting in the wings. It was a "thanks for everything, but it's time to move on" situation for both sides.
The Final Act: Oregon Ducks (2024)
Dillon Gabriel officially joined Oregon on December 9, 2023.
He didn't mess around. Five days after leaving Oklahoma, he committed to Dan Lanning and the Ducks. He arrived in Eugene in January 2024 to take over for Bo Nix. It was a match made in heaven. He wore number 8, just like his mentor Marcus Mariota.
His 2024 season was a victory lap. He threw for 3,857 yards and 30 touchdowns, leading Oregon into the Big Ten. He wasn't just a "transfer QB" anymore; he was a Heisman finalist and the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year.
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Breaking Down the Record-Breaking Timeline
| Program | Date Joined / Committed | Years Active | Key Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| UCF | Dec 19, 2018 | 2019–2021 | Freshman Passing Record |
| UCLA | Dec 16, 2021 | N/A | Decommitted after 18 days |
| Oklahoma | Jan 3, 2022 | 2022–2023 | 6,828 Passing Yards |
| Oregon | Dec 9, 2023 | 2024 | Big Ten MVP / Heisman Finalist |
What Happened Next?
After his sixth and final college season ended at the Rose Bowl in January 2025, Gabriel moved on to the pros. He was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the 3rd round (94th overall) of the 2025 NFL Draft.
He left college football as the all-time leader in total touchdowns (189) and tied for most passing touchdowns (155). It’s a career that likely won’t be replicated. Most players don't have the luck—or the longevity—to stay healthy and productive through three different major programs.
Why His Journey Matters
Honestly, Gabriel is the poster child for the "New College Football." He used the portal to his advantage at every turn. He found better schemes, better NIL opportunities, and eventually, a higher draft stock.
If you're a fan trying to track these moves, the big takeaway is that Dillon Gabriel was always looking for the right fit at the right time. From the humidity of Orlando to the pressure of Norman and the spotlight of Eugene, his "dates joined" tell the story of a guy who simply refused to stop playing.
If you are looking to track more career stats or player movements, your next step should be checking the official NCAA Transfer Portal database or the NFL Transaction wire to see how Gabriel is settling into the Browns' roster for the 2026 season.