Oklahoma opens its 2026 season Friday night in Norman against UTEP, and for John Mateer, the first test is about more than just shaking off the offseason. It’s the start of his final year at quarterback, and the Sooners are eager to see what he looks like after an uneven 2025 campaign.
Mateer threw for 2,885 yards with 14 touchdowns and 11 interceptions last season, and he spent much of that year playing through a broken thumb. This fall, he says he’s healthy and ready to go, which gives Oklahoma a different kind of baseline heading into the opener.
Still, he’s not brushing aside the Miners. In an interview with reporters, Mateer made it clear he expects a challenge.
"I expect to see a good opponent," Mateer said via SoonerScoop."They do a lot of different things, and they play hard. They've got a lot of guys coming back, and we're excited."
Oklahoma enters the game as the No. 10 team in the AP Poll, and the Sooners bring back several key defensive players who made at least six starts last season. Mateer and leading receiver Isaiah Sategna are also back, giving Oklahoma a familiar core as the season begins.
That’s what makes Friday night less about the final score and more about the shape of the performance. How sharp is Mateer?
How efficient is the offense? Can the defense keep playing at the level Oklahoma expects?
Those are the questions that matter before the schedule gets a lot tougher.
For Mateer, this opener is the first chance to steer his Oklahoma story in a new direction. UTEP is the opponent in front of him, but the bigger job is to start clean, build confidence, and set the tone for the stretch ahead.
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Oklahomas Season Opener Said Plenty About This Team Fast
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There was at least some encouragement for UTEP on the offensive side, and Walden said he sees room for the group to keep developing after a game like this. The schedule does not offer much time to ease into that process, either, with Michigan, Texas Southern and Oregon State all still ahead in non-conference play, so the Miners will need whatever lessons they can carry out of Week 1. [Read more 🡒]