Aug. 29, 2026, 2:00 p.m. CT
Across college football, you can find widespread opinions on Oklahoma Sooners quarterback John Mateer. Some think he can be a Heisman contender, while others think he showed his true colors at the end of last season.
That’s why this season is an important one for Mateer and the Sooner offense. The team ranked No.
92 in total offense last year, but Oklahoma has added an emphasis on helping the run game and taken some pressure off of Mateer. The Sooners also added some playmakers in the transfer portal in wide receivers Parker Livingstone and Trell Harris. Due to those additions and Mateer being healthy from his thumb injury, college football analyst Josh Pate said he’s bullish on Mateer. “I know there are different philosophies out there,” Pate said on ‘Josh Pate’s College Football Show.’ “I don’t want to rehash the injury thing.
But I am a big believer in pre-injury and post-injury splits… I am very, very bullish on John Mateer this year.”
There’s a reason Mateer’s evaluation remains so fascinating. Before the thumb injury, he looked like a completely different quarterback.
Through Oklahoma’s first four games, Mateer had 1,215 passing yards, six touchdowns and three interceptions while adding 190 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns. After the injury, his production and consistency dropped considerably.
That doesn’t automatically mean the injury explains everything. But it does provide a legitimate reason to believe the quarterback Oklahoma saw early last season could return. The biggest difference in 2026 is that Oklahoma has also spent the offseason trying to make sure Mateer doesn’t have to do everything himself. The rushing attack has been a major focus, while Livingstone and Harris give him additional options in the passing game.
That could make Mateer’s second season in Norman look considerably different. 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 @jaronspor .
