The Oklahoma Sooners have a big season ahead of them. They’re in need of a big bounce-back season after going 6-7 in 2024 and Brent Venables and Jim Nagy believe they’ve brought in the right pieces to course-correct the program.
The addition of John Mateer has reinvigorated the hope and optimism surrounding the Oklahoma Sooners. Not everything that went wrong last year was on the quarterback position, but the lack of experience kept the Sooners offense from overcoming the bevy of injuries OU dealt with at wide receiver and along the offensive line.
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Mateer’s experience and reported leadership gives the Sooners a chance to see a significant jump in their win total in 2025. He’s in his third year in Ben Arbuckle’s system and in his first season as a starter in 2024 (he sat behind the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Cam Ward), Mateer put up nearly 4,000 yards of total offense and led the nation with 44 total touchdowns.
He’ll need to make a jump in his play to have a similar impact for the Sooners, but by all accounts, he’s looked really good this spring against the Oklahoma Sooners’ defense. Heading into 2025, he’s considered one of the best quarterbacks in college football. Patrick Conn of College Sports Wire ranked his top 12 quarterbacks for 2025 and Mateer came in at No. 6.
John Mateer is the first quarterback on the list who is playing with a new team in 2025. He followed offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle, who left Washington State to join the Oklahoma Sooners staff. You might not be too familiar with Mateer, given that he played in the Pac-12 last season, but he is a name to remember moving forward. He has plenty of excellent game tape to catch up on. – Conn, College Sports Wire
The connection and chemistry Mateer has with Arbuckle have a chance to be as impactful as the one Dillon Gabriel shared with Jeff Lebby, and the two put together a pair of productive seasons in Norman. But it isn’t all on Mateer’s shoulders either. The offensive line should be much improved, and the wide receiver depth is better as well. If Oklahoma can have better luck on the injury front, they’ll be significantly improved and Mateer will have a chance to put up some big numbers in 2025.
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This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: John Mateer ranked among best quarterbacks by College Sports Wire
