John Mateer’s first season at Oklahoma brought wins, a playoff berth and plenty of proof that the Sooners are headed in the right direction. But if you asked him what stuck with him most heading into 2026, he didn’t point to the highlights.
He went straight to the painful parts.
On Day 1 of SEC Media Days in Tampa, Mateer said two moments were still front and center: the interception against Alabama that turned into a Crimson Tide Pick-6 in the first round of the College Football playoff, and his rushed return from injury for the Red River Rivalry against Texas.
When asked about rewatching the Alabama mistake while appearing on SEC Now, Mateer didn’t sugarcoat it.
“It is very uncomfortable to watch, it really is,” Mateer said when asked about watching the costly Alabama interception while on the set of SEC Now. “I learned a lot.
It’s just not an easy game. … You learn that every play is different, and you go through your reads, and there are keys in every game.”
The Texas game carried its own weight. Mateer said he was not at full strength when Oklahoma faced the Longhorns on Oct. 11, less than three weeks after surgery on his right (throwing) hand. He finished that game with 202 passing yards and three interceptions.
Still, the bigger picture for Oklahoma was a strong one. The Sooners finished 10-3 and reached their first College Football Playoff.
Mateer said the setbacks will matter going forward, even if they were hard to sit through in the moment.
“Even though I failed, I’ll be better for it,” Mateer said. “It was a very difficult thing to do. … It sucked, it really did.”
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