John Mateer’s first year at Oklahoma didn’t match the buzz that followed him out of the transfer portal, but the expectation around him hasn’t gone anywhere. In fact, one prominent analyst thinks the Sooners quarterback is set up to look a lot different in 2026.
Mateer came to Norman after a huge 2024 season at Washington State, when he piled up 3,139 passing yards, 29 touchdowns and seven interceptions while adding 826 rushing yards and 15 scores. That production made him one of the hottest names in the portal, and he ultimately chose to follow offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle to Oklahoma.
The move brought plenty of attention, but the first season in Norman was uneven. Mateer finished with 2,885 passing yards, 14 touchdowns and 11 interceptions, along with 431 rushing yards and eight scores. A throwing-hand injury also interrupted what had started as a promising run.
Still, optimism around Mateer remains strong. On3’s J.D. PicKell, speaking on “The Hard Count,” said he expects a major jump.
"I think that John Mateer, going into his second year as the guy in Norman, and going into, I think it's like Year 4 in Ben Arbuckle's offense, will be so much better," PicKell said. "...
I think he's going to be so much better from the neck up playing the game. He's seen the live bullets in the SEC now.
He knows what it is to expect from the speed of the game."
If Mateer sharpens his decision-making and gets back to the efficiency he showed at Washington State, the upside is obvious. Oklahoma already has a defense that gives the program a championship-caliber base, and the biggest question hanging over the Sooners may be whether Mateer can become the quarterback who changes everything in 2026.
In Other News...
Oklahoma Just Got A Huge New Roster Question This Offseason
A federal judges latest ruling could create an unexpected layer of uncertainty around Oklahomas offseason roster, opening the door for some players to pursue a fifth college season even after exhausting four years of eligibility. The decision applies to athletes from the 2022 recruiting class and arrives despite the NCAAs planned five-in-five rule, which was not supposed to take effect until the 2027 recruiting class, giving programs across the country another potential round of roster movement to monitor.
For the Sooners, the issue is especially notable because several players on the 2025 roster could fall into that window and suddenly have a choice to make after the 2026 NFL Draft. If any of those players decide college is still the better move, Oklahoma could be dealing with a fresh wave of roster decisions well after the usual offseason business is supposed to be settled. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma Enters Camp With One Huge Question Up Front
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What comes next is the real test, because the Sooners need that group to hold up after losing so much experience. Oklahoma has blended in transfers and freshmen to help fill the gaps, and the early weeks of camp will go a long way toward showing whether the new-look interior line can match the standard the program expects, or whether this becomes the kind of spot that takes time to sort out. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahomas 2026 Offense Hinges On One Long Awaited Change
Fall camp has arrived in Norman, and with it comes a familiar offseason priority for the Sooners: making the run game and offensive line sturdier before the 2026 season gets underway. Oklahoma has spent the buildup adding experience on both fronts, bringing in offensive lineman EMarion Harris and running backs coach Deland McCullough as part of a broader push to add physicality and depth. The goal is clear enough, even if the work is just getting started, with the opener against UTEP serving as the first chance to see whether the changes are showing up where they matter most.
For Oklahoma, this is about more than just shoring up one phase of the offense. The Sooners have returning players mixed with new additions, and the challenge now is turning that blend into a line and backfield that can hold up over a full season. The identity they are chasing is a more dependable, more physical attack, and fall camp will reveal how close they are to getting it before the spotlight tightens in September. [Read more 🡒]