Oklahoma’s Quarterback Room Looks Ready - Now It’s Time for John Mateer and the Offense to Take the Next Step
The Oklahoma Sooners took a meaningful step forward on offense in 2025, and it paid off with a trip to the College Football Playoff. But if they want more than just a ticket to the dance in 2026 - if they want to be the ones holding the trophy - the offense still has room to grow. And as is so often the case in college football, that growth starts under center.
Quarterback play drives everything in today’s game. And for Oklahoma, that means John Mateer is the engine.
When he was healthy early in the 2025 season, the Sooners looked like a team that could score with anyone. In wins over Michigan and Auburn, Mateer averaged 270.5 yards through the air and looked completely in command.
But then came the thumb injury - suffered in that Auburn game - and everything changed.
Mateer made a quick return, suiting up for the Red River Rivalry against Texas less than three weeks after surgery. It was a gutsy move, but the results weren’t quite the same.
Over the next six games, including matchups against Texas and Missouri, Mateer averaged just 174.2 passing yards per game. He threw four touchdowns against four interceptions, and his yards per attempt took a noticeable dip.
The confidence pushing the ball downfield just wasn’t there, and his accuracy wavered.
But the end of the season told a different story.
In the final two games - against LSU and Alabama - Mateer looked much more like his early-season self. He averaged 312.5 passing yards per game, and while the touchdown-to-interception ratio remained at four apiece, all four scores came in those two games. The arm strength, the confidence, the feel - it was all closer to what Oklahoma needs from its QB1.
Let’s talk numbers for a moment. Mateer averaged 8.6 yards per attempt in the first four games before the injury.
That number fell to 5.9 over the next six games - a significant drop. But in the final two games, it rebounded to 7.9.
For the season, he landed right at the FBS average of 7.3 yards per attempt. But if you remove those six post-injury games, his average jumps to 8.4 - a mark that would’ve tied for 20th nationally.
Bottom line: when healthy, Mateer showed he can play at a high level. Now, with a full offseason ahead and a year of SEC experience under his belt, the Sooners need him to take the next step - to become the consistent, dynamic leader that can carry this offense through the gauntlet of a national title run.
Behind Mateer, the Sooners’ quarterback room is in solid shape. Whitt Newbauer returns after transferring in from FCS Mercer last offseason. He didn’t see much action - completing two of four passes for six yards and adding 10 yards on the ground - but his presence gave Oklahoma the flexibility to redshirt Michael Hawkins Jr., who has since transferred to West Virginia.
Newbauer is a steady, experienced option who could step in if needed, but the future of the position might be Bowe Bentley - a highly touted four-star signee from Celina High School in Texas. Oklahoma beat out LSU for his commitment, and it’s easy to see why.
Bentley led Celina to an undefeated season and a state title in 2024, and even while battling an arm injury in the 2025 playoffs, he nearly pulled off another deep run. His team lost by just three points to eventual state champion Stephenville.
“He’s a winner. He’s never lost a game,” said Oklahoma assistant coach Seth Nagy during the early signing period.
“The cool thing with Bowe being so close to home is he’s been here basically every week. He’s been around this team.
He’s seen why this team has been successful.”
Bentley may be the future, but Oklahoma will likely want to preserve a redshirt season for him in 2026. That makes Newbauer the next man up if the Sooners need a short-term solution or a spot appearance.
Also in the mix is Jett Niu, who redshirted last season after flipping his commitment from Oklahoma State following the hiring of offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle. Niu adds another developmental option to a room that has both immediate talent and long-term upside.
Heading into spring, Oklahoma’s quarterback situation is one of stability and promise. They’ve got a clear starter in Mateer, who’s shown flashes of high-level play.
They’ve got experienced depth in Newbauer. And they’ve got a potential star in Bentley waiting in the wings.
That’s the kind of structure that championship-caliber programs build around.
Now, it’s about execution. If Mateer can stay healthy and continue to evolve, and if the offense around him takes another step forward, Oklahoma won’t just be in the playoff mix - they’ll be in the national title conversation.
Sooners Quarterback Depth Chart (Pre-Spring):
- QB1: John Mateer
- QB2: Whitt Newbauer
- QB3: Bowe Bentley (Freshman - potential redshirt)
- QB4: Jett Niu (Redshirt Freshman)
The pieces are in place. The Sooners just need their quarterback to lead the way.