In Norman, seasons aren’t built on excuses, but if they were, the Oklahoma Sooners had enough in 2024 to write a novel. When a team loses almost an entire starting unit to injuries, it’s not just a setback—it’s a full-blown demolition. The Sooners didn’t just limp to the finish line; they crawled. And now, as Brent Venables pieces his roster back together, one thing is clear—new QB1 John Mateer doesn’t have the luxury of patience. The offense needs a jolt, and he’s the guy who has to provide it. In a conference where quarterbacks can’t just be game managers, Mateer is being asked to be something more—a creator, a playmaker, a difference-maker.
Decision-making, control, and the ability to extend plays separate good quarterbacks from great ones, and that’s exactly where he thrives. “My favorite thing about John, and we’ve talked about it—look, if you give him a good offensive line, you give him good pass catchers, he is going to play like one of the best quarterbacks in the SEC, arguably the best quarterback in the SEC.” Those are big words, but Mateer’s playing style backs them up. His ability to evade pressure and make high-level throws off-platform adds an element to Oklahoma’s offense that could be the X-factor in a season that demands nothing less than a major bounce-back.
Brent Venables knows quarterbacks can only do so much without weapons, and that’s why Oklahoma made a major push in the transfer portal. “One of the things I love most about John Mateer is one of the best quarterbacks in the country at ‘Hey, I’m gonna be a difference maker. I’m gonna get myself out of trouble. I’m gonna throw off-platform. I’m gonna make high-level throws.’” The challenge for Mateer isn’t just playing to his strengths—it’s adapting to what’s around him.
