John Mateer didn’t sugarcoat what it was like to play through the broken bone in his right thumb against Auburn.
The Oklahoma quarterback opened up about the injury that came in the first quarter of the Sooners’ 24-17 win in Norman last September, and he made it clear the whole thing was a miserable experience - even if he’s not dwelling on it now.
"I have no regrets in the challenge I put myself through. Obviously, it didn’t work out.
Like, it sucked. We all watched it.
I’m not saying that. But it’s just the result.
I learned a lot, and you learn that you can adapt, and then in the offseason, go back," Mateer said.
The numbers tell the story of two different versions of Mateer before and after the injury. Before it happened, he completed 67.4% of his passes, threw 11 total touchdowns and had three interceptions.
Afterward, he finished at 59.4% completions with eight touchdowns and eight interceptions. The schedule helped pad some of those early numbers, but the drop-off was still obvious once the thumb injury hit.
Still, the tone from Mateer is about moving forward, not looking back. After what he showed at the Manning Passing Academy, it’s fair to wonder if he’s fully past it and ready to be a problem for defenses this fall.
Elsewhere in the SEC conversation, FOX Sports analyst Joel Klatt made a familiar prediction: Georgia and Alabama could be right back in the thick of the conference race when the season reaches championship time.
Klatt pointed to the recent history between the two powers while making his case for their Week 6 meeting being one of the biggest games on the slate.
“You got to think about the last 12 SEC championship games. Either Georgia or Alabama have been in every single one of them, and either Georgia or Alabama has won 11 of the last 12. The only SEC team to win an SEC title not named Georgia or Alabama is LSU with Joe Burrow," Klatt said.
The two programs have split the recent spotlight in different ways. Alabama has taken the last two regular-season matchups, but Georgia handled the Tide 28-7 in the SEC title game in December. Both teams then fell in the second round of the CFP, a finish that left plenty of questions hanging over each side.
Georgia enters 2026 carrying a chip after losing to Ole Miss in the postseason, while Alabama is walking into the year with real pressure attached to it. The Week 6 showdown figures to shape plenty of the biggest storylines in the conference before the dust settles.
In Other News...
Gamecock Fans Are Already Debating Nikes New Garnet Look
South Carolinas switch from Under Armour to Nike has done more than change the logo on the sideline gear. It has also nudged the Gamecocks trademark garnet into a new look, one that fans have already noticed as the school settles into its new apparel partnership. Nike works with its own internal color teams rather than matching every school shade exactly, so South Carolinas distinctive Pantone 202 is now showing up in a version that is a touch different from what the program has worn before.
The change is subtle in some places and more noticeable in others, especially on garnet cotton T-shirts, where the color can read a little lighter than the standard Gamecock look. South Carolina athletic director Jeremiah Donati said matching the schools color across different materials is always a challenge, and the department is happy with where Nike has landed. Even so, when a fan base cares as much about garnet as South Carolinas does, a small shift in shade is enough to get people talking. [Read more 🡒]
Gamecocks Offensive Line Is Already Facing A Familiar Early Test
South Carolinas offensive line is entering another season with a sense of dj vu, only this time the reset button has been hit with purpose. After a year defined by injuries and uneven play, the Gamecocks changed out the position coach and offensive coordinator, then went to work rebuilding the front with a wave of new faces and a fresh staff trying to piece together a unit that can hold up better than last falls version.
The optimism is real, but so are the unknowns that come with any overhaul, especially up front. A few key players are still working through injuries, jobs are unsettled in the middle, and the depth chart is not likely to settle quickly. Even so, the coaches sound convinced this group has more depth and more developmental upside than the one it is replacing, which is why the line will be one of the first true tests of how far this rebuild has come. [Read more 🡒]
Gamecocks Just Made A Statement In A Massive Recruiting Battle
Josh Dobsons public commitment gave South Carolina a notable win on the recruiting trail, landing one of the classs top cornerbacks out of Cornelius, North Carolina. The Gamecocks beat out a heavyweight group that included Michigan, Texas A&M, Auburn and LSU, a clear sign the staff is still capable of going head-to-head with national powers for premium defensive talent.
Torrian Gray and the rest of the secondary staff played a meaningful role in Dobsons decision, and South Carolina also backed that pitch with a serious financial commitment. What makes this one stand out is how far the Gamecocks pushed to close the deal, especially with Texas A&M long viewed as the team to beat before Dobson ultimately chose Columbia. [Read more 🡒]