A week after Oklahoma fans spent plenty of time questioning John Mateer, a little perspective from south of the Red River has made the conversation look different.
Mateer had his share of criticism this season, and there were real moments when Sooner fans had reason to want more from the quarterback spot. But after watching Texas quarterback Arch Manning stumble again, it’s a lot easier to appreciate what Oklahoma has under center.
Texas, fresh off losing its No. 1 ranking because of the Red River Rivalry defeat to OU, followed that up with another 27-24 loss, this time to unranked Florida in Austin. Once again, Manning had the chance to close it out and once again it slipped away.
The Longhorns got the ball back at their own 46-yard line with 2:27 left. Manning came back onto the field as the broadcast talked up the idea of him getting another shot at a game-winning drive after last week’s failure in Dallas.
Texas opened with a two-yard run, but on second-and-8 Manning dropped back, got sacked and lost the ball. Florida recovered, took over and ran out the clock to finish the upset.
Manning ended up 14 for 20 for 173 yards with one touchdown. He also finished with zero rushing yards on 10 carries. Cam Coleman, the prized transfer addition, caught three passes for 18 yards.
The result dropped Texas to 4-2 and only sharpened the noise around Manning and head coach Steve Sarkisian. Fans want Manning benched, and Sarkisian is suddenly on the hot seat, barely a week after Texas supporters were mocking Sooner Nation over similar quarterback concerns.
That shift in mood makes Oklahoma’s own quarterback situation look a lot better from this side of the rivalry.
In the Red River game itself, Manning had his chance to become the hero. Instead, with the score tied 24-24 and 54 seconds left, he threw an interception to Courtland Guillory after Brent Venables turned up the pressure. Manning had already thrown a pick-six earlier in the fourth quarter.
Then Mateer took over.
With 19 seconds left and the game still hanging there, Oklahoma trusted its QB1 to finish the job from its own 39-yard line. Mateer completed a 13-yard pass to Isaiah Sategna, then followed it with a 20-yard dart to Sategna along the sideline. From there, he squared up the ball, took a knee and set Tate Sandell up for the 47-yard field goal that won it as time expired.
The moment belonged to Mateer, and for Oklahoma, it changed the tone of the quarterback conversation fast.
Going into that game, people had been pointing out how close Mateer’s and Manning’s numbers looked. The difference was the label attached to each guy: Manning was being talked about like a Heisman Trophy candidate, while Mateer was still getting questioned by some about whether he should even be the starter.
Now the comparison looks a lot different.
OU fans would rather stick with what they already have.
In Other News...
Oklahoma Heads Into Kentucky With A New Offensive Line Worry
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If those absences hold, Peyton Joseph would be in line for his first career start at right guard, slotting into a front that would also include Ryan Fodje, Noah Best, Jake Maikkula and E'Marion Harris. For Oklahoma, the bigger issue is less about one game than the cumulative effect of constant line turnover, which has made it difficult to build rhythm up front and now leaves the Sooners facing another test of depth at a crucial spot. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahomas Kentucky Availability Report Brings New Concern Before SEC Opener
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There was some relief on the other side of the report, with Tory Blaylock and Jack Van Dorselaer both upgraded and no longer listed among the question marks. Even so, the shifting availability picture adds another layer of intrigue to a matchup that is already carrying early-season SEC stakes, and Kentuckys decision to name Nic Anderson and Jovantae Barnes as captains only adds to the sense that familiar faces will be in the spotlight. [Read more 🡒]
These Overlooked Sooners Could Decide Oklahomas Edge Against Kentucky
Sullivans return against Texas gave Oklahoma another piece to work with on defense, even if his role was limited to 13 snaps after the injury layoff. The Sooners are expecting him to factor in again as they try to shore up an edge group that has to hold up against Kentuckys offense, while the offense has been getting a different kind of lift from Jonathan Hatton at running back. Hatton started there and showed enough promise alongside Lloyd Avant to give Oklahoma some options as it keeps searching for reliable depth.
Isaiah Sategna has been the steady receiving presence so far, leading the Sooners in catches and yards, but this matchup could come down to the fronts on both sides of the ball. Adepoju Adebawore and Jayden Jackson have already been central defensive pieces through five games, and Oklahoma is leaning on Adebawore in particular to help contain Kentucky quarterback Kenny Minchey and squeeze the Wildcats' run game. For a defense still sorting out roles, those lesser-sung snaps could end up mattering just as much as the headline names. [Read more 🡒]