Georgia knows the Oklahoma offense hasn’t exactly hit full stride, but that hasn’t changed the way Kirby Smart and his defense are approaching Saturday’s matchup with the Sooners. The focus starts with John Mateer, a quarterback Georgia views as dangerous no matter what the numbers say.
Smart made it clear Mateer’s game jumps off the film because of how hard he is to bring down and how many ways he can hurt a defense.
"Obviously his athleticism pops out at you," Smart said of Mateer. "He's hard to tackle.
He breaks a lot of tackles. He's tough.
You talk about the run game. He runs inside, he runs outside, he runs to pass, he scrambles to throw.
He's made explosives with his legs."
That mobility is part of why Mateer opened the year with Heisman Trophy buzz, but through three games the production has been uneven. He has completed 62.7% of his passes for 652 yards with 6 touchdowns and 3 interceptions, while adding 26 carries for 69 yards on the ground.
The SEC numbers paint a similar picture. Mateer is seventh in yards per attempt at 8.7, ninth in QB rating at 154.09, and 11th in attempts per game at 25.0. His 3 interceptions are tied for the third-most among league quarterbacks.
Oklahoma’s offense has plenty to clean up, too. Through three games, the Sooners are tied for 99th nationally in scoring offense at 25.0 points per game, 81st in passing offense at 219.3 yards per game, 123rd in rushing offense at 110.33 yards per game, and tied for 115th in turnovers lost with 6.
Even with those issues, Smart said Mateer has taken steps forward since arriving at Oklahoma in 2025, especially in learning the pace and decision-making required in the SEC. That includes knowing when to take off and when to stay patient.
Georgia linebacker Justin Williams echoed that concern, pointing out that the Bulldogs see a version of that challenge every day in practice.
"Gunner, he brings a great challenge every day," Williams said. "Gunner makes a lot of plays, so they're kind of similar. I wouldn't say it makes it easier, but you go against that every day, so it's the same challenge."
Mateer’s fifth and final season has not gone the way he hoped, but Georgia still sees a quarterback who can flip a game if he gets loose. For the Bulldogs, the assignment is simple: keep him contained and make sure Oklahoma doesn’t walk out of Sanford Stadium with a win.
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