Oklahoma’s captains have made their stance clear: they believe in John Mateer.
After the Sooners’ 41-13 loss at Georgia, Jake Maikkula called Mateer “a great leader” and said he was “super proud of him,” even after a game that turned into a turnover-heavy mess for the starting quarterback. David Stone was just as direct, telling Mateer he was “the best quarterback I’ve ever had” and adding that his weekly preparation would eventually “click for him" on game days.
That kind of backing has been steady all season. It hasn’t changed the reality around Oklahoma’s offense, though. Mateer’s play in 2026 has remained poor enough that Brent Venables is now taking questions about a quarterback change.
The Sooners have nine captains: Mateer, Eddy Pierre-Louis, Michael Fasusi, Kip Lewis, Owen Heinecke, Peyton Bowen, Taylor Wein, Maikkula and Stone. The support from that group matters, especially in a sport built on trust and accountability. But belief only goes so far if the quarterback doesn’t start playing better.
Some of Oklahoma’s captains have been more effective than others. On defense, Wein, Lewis, Stone and Bowen have largely lived up to expectations. Heinecke has missed some tackles, but he’s still been a positive presence.
The offensive side is where the help for Mateer is supposed to be more direct, because those captains are the ones helping protect him. That has been a problem.
Fasusi hasn’t played since the first quarter of Oklahoma’s season opener, and there’s no clear answer on when or if he’ll return. Maikkula came back against Michigan and has been solid, but he hasn’t been able to lift the unit past its shortcomings. Pierre-Louis was benched for Heath Ozaeta at the start of the Georgia game before returning at right guard.
That leaves Oklahoma in a tricky spot. Half the captains are dealing with issues of their own, and yet they were chosen to be the players who help steady the group.
If the Sooners are going to salvage the season, starting with No. 1 Texas in two weeks, those captains will have to push through their own struggles.
Still, the biggest fix may be the simplest one: better quarterback play. And that has to come from Mateer.
Every captain has publicly defended him, praised him and shown belief in him. They were behind him after his rough Cotton Bowl performance last season.
They stayed with him as he worked through a hand injury on the way to a College Football Playoff berth. Mateer never became a dynamic passer in 2025, but Oklahoma’s faith in him was rewarded, at least to a point.
Now, with College Football Playoff hopes fading and bowl eligibility in question in 2026, that same confidence has to turn into production fast.
Encouragement is nice. It does not solve the obvious problem. Mateer has to play better, and it won’t be because the people around him stopped believing.
Rocky Beers, who is not a captain, echoed that same feeling before the New Mexico game: "He's our captain. We voted him captain.
We believe in him. We love him.
We're behind him."
That kind of support can help. It can’t make the throws, and it can’t make the decisions once the ball is in Mateer’s hands. The line has to get healthier, the captains have to handle their own business, and the quarterback has to start delivering.
In Other News...
Peyton Bowen Sees One Big Issue Holding Back Oklahomas Quarterback
Peyton Bowen has seen enough around Oklahomas quarterback room to know how quickly things can change when turnovers start piling up. The Sooners safety pointed to the pressure John Mateer has been dealing with after recent miscues, and he drew a clear parallel to what former teammate Jackson Arnold went through in a similar stretch. Bowen still believes Mateer has the talent and leadership to steer things in the right direction, but he also made it clear that the mental side of the position can get heavy fast.
For Oklahoma, the concern is not whether Mateer can make plays in practice, where Bowen says he has shown plenty, but whether that confidence carries over once the games begin to tighten up. Bowen has been supporting him personally through the rough patch, knowing how important it is for a quarterback to trust his own game again after criticism starts to build. The Sooners have a long season ahead, and how quickly Mateer can turn practice production into game-day results may end up shaping a lot more than one stat line. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahomas Offensive Line Battle Just Took A Meaningful Turn
Oklahomas offensive line has been under the microscope for weeks, and Brent Venables said the group showed a little more steadiness in pass protection during the recent game against Georgia. The Sooners also cleaned up one of the issues that had been adding to the pressure, finishing with only one false start, while the staff continues sorting out who can hold up best up front as the season moves along.
One part of that evaluation is giving Peyton Joseph more snaps and seeing whether the depth can keep improving beyond the first group. Venables also said injured tackle Michael Fasusi is making progress, but Oklahoma still does not have a timetable for his return, leaving the lines next step tied to both development and health. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahomas QB Situation Just Put Brent Venables In A Tough Spot
Brent Venables spent part of the week trying to steady Oklahomas quarterback picture, and for now it still points back to John Mateer. The Sooners coach said he has confidence in backups Whitt Newbauer and Bowe Bentley, but he also made clear that Mateer remains the starter despite recent struggles and turnovers, a reminder of how thin the margin has become at the games most important position.
Venables even acknowledged there were conversations about benching Mateer after the poor performance, yet Oklahoma is sticking with the current plan heading into Texas. Newbauer brings some FCS starting experience, while Bentley has not made his college debut, which leaves the Sooners in a familiar bind: leaning on the quarterback who has already been under fire, while waiting to see whether the depth chart can really offer a safer alternative. [Read more 🡒]