The Red River Rivalry is always a physical matchup, and this year is no different as Oklahoma QB Dillon Gabriel cut his hand early in the first quarter.
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The senior quarterback had to be attended to in the first quarter as blood dripped from multiple fingers on his non-throwing hand. The bloody hand was caught on the Fox broadcast cameras in great detail.
Confirmed: Dillon Gabriel bleeds crimson 🩸 pic.twitter.com/1sJldRxkN9
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 7, 2023
While this likely won't hurt his ability to throw, the left-handed quarterback could find it difficult to handle snaps and protect the ball while under pressure or running.
Texas and Oklahoma were locked in at 7-7 after the first quarter with Gabriel going 5-10 with 74 yards. He is responsible for Oklahoma's only touchdown of the game, a 9-yard rush on 2nd and goal early in the first quarter after an ugly Quinn Ewers interception set the Sooners up deep in Texas territory.
This heavy-weight contest between the two favorites in the Big 12 is one of the most anticipated games of the college football season as both teams are undefeated going into the Red River showdown for the first time since 2011.
A transfer from UCF, Gabriel has been a big part of Oklahoma's turn around in 2023 after a disappointing season in 2022. The fifth-year quarterback is completing 75.2 percent of his passes for 1,593 yards and 15 touchdowns compared to just two interceptions so far this year. He is on pace to shatter his numbers from last year, in which he completed 62.7 percent of his passes for 3,168 yards and 25 touchdowns.
Ranked No. 12 in the AP Poll, a win over No. 3 Texas would be a statement win for Gabriel, head coach Brent Venables and the Sooners as they look to get back to the College Football Playoff for the first time since 2019, where Oklahoma lost 63-28 to eventual national champion LSU.
