- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,194,025
- Reaction score
- 59
It is now a do-or-die season for Oklahoma Sooners quarterback John Mateer.
When he joined the Sooners before the 2025 season, he was thought of as one of the best quarterbacks in the sport. That's why it was a major win for the Sooners when they landed him in the transfer portal.
Mateer decided to enter the portal after his offensive coordinator at Washington State, Ben Arbuckle, took the same position at Oklahoma. Things looked good early in the season.
Mateer played at a high level through the first part of the year and was mentioned in early Heisman Trophy discussions. However, after an injury to his throwing hand, his production and consistency declined late in the season.
Despite the up-and-down season, college football analyst Aaron Murray revealed on "The Hard Count" that he thinks Mateer is still a top 10 quarterback in college football.
"He's a guy who obviously has been in the system for a long time... now his second year as the Oklahoma starter," Murray said. "I think (he) learned a lot from last year... There's just a belief that everything around him is going to support him at a different level."
That supporting cast will be a major factor in 2026. Oklahoma returns four of its five starting offensive linemen, adding continuity and experience up front under Bill Bedenbaugh. The Sooners also overhauled the tight end room and hired Deland McCullough to lead the running backs after DeMarco Murray left for the Kansas City Chiefs.
If the offensive line takes another step forward and the running game improves after an inconsistent 2025 season, it should help stabilize the offense and reduce pressure on Mateer.
The combination could allow Mateer to return to his pre-injury form and solidify himself not only as one of the top 10 quarterbacks in the country, but among the top tier of the passers entering 2026.
Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X (formerly known as Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Jaron on X @Jaron Spor.
This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Aaron Murray reveals why John Mateer is a top-10 QB for 2026
Continue reading...
When he joined the Sooners before the 2025 season, he was thought of as one of the best quarterbacks in the sport. That's why it was a major win for the Sooners when they landed him in the transfer portal.
Mateer decided to enter the portal after his offensive coordinator at Washington State, Ben Arbuckle, took the same position at Oklahoma. Things looked good early in the season.
Mateer played at a high level through the first part of the year and was mentioned in early Heisman Trophy discussions. However, after an injury to his throwing hand, his production and consistency declined late in the season.
Despite the up-and-down season, college football analyst Aaron Murray revealed on "The Hard Count" that he thinks Mateer is still a top 10 quarterback in college football.
"He's a guy who obviously has been in the system for a long time... now his second year as the Oklahoma starter," Murray said. "I think (he) learned a lot from last year... There's just a belief that everything around him is going to support him at a different level."
That supporting cast will be a major factor in 2026. Oklahoma returns four of its five starting offensive linemen, adding continuity and experience up front under Bill Bedenbaugh. The Sooners also overhauled the tight end room and hired Deland McCullough to lead the running backs after DeMarco Murray left for the Kansas City Chiefs.
If the offensive line takes another step forward and the running game improves after an inconsistent 2025 season, it should help stabilize the offense and reduce pressure on Mateer.
The combination could allow Mateer to return to his pre-injury form and solidify himself not only as one of the top 10 quarterbacks in the country, but among the top tier of the passers entering 2026.
Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X (formerly known as Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Jaron on X @Jaron Spor.
This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Aaron Murray reveals why John Mateer is a top-10 QB for 2026
Continue reading...
