Oklahoma Sooners QB John Mateer keeps it all the way real regarding OU’s CFP appearance last season

The Oklahoma Sooners made the College Football Playoff last season, and John Mateer played well against Alabama.

The Oklahoma Sooners made the College Football Playoff last season, but they’re looking for more than just an appearance in 2026. This time, they’re looking for a win in the postseason and possibly a National Championship appearance.

What happened last year doesn’t really matter anymore.

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“It’s cute,” quarterback John Mateer told On3 when asked about the CFP banner hanging up in the facilities. “You know, it’s up there. But everybody’s like, ‘No, that’s not the goal.’ So, there are a couple of things like that, which from an outside piece, it’s like, ‘Oh, that’s great. You made the playoffs.’ But it’s like, no, it’s not.

“It’s a very uncomfortable feeling; I think it’s the best way to put it,” Mateer said. “Super uncomfortable. But we’re ready to go. We’ve been pushing it hard in the offseason, and if anybody’s feeling too good, it gets brought back up again, which is how it should be. You feel real pain in that, and I believe that. You get to sulk in it, and you move on, but those emotions are still there.”