Steve Curtis July 21, 2026
Standing in John Mateer’s media scrum at SEC Media Days, one thing became clear: Oklahoma’s quarterback isn’t running from the offense’s struggles in 2025.
When asked what caused the Sooners’ inconsistency last season, Mateer didn’t hesitate.
“I would say I was the reason. I’m going to be honest. You watch the film, and I cringe when I watch the film. I got to be better. We’re all working toward it. We’ve all done a great job, but if the quarterback doesn’t perform, then it’s tough on everybody.”
Now entering his second season at Oklahoma and in the SEC, Mateer believes another offseason of development has him better prepared for what lies ahead.
“Yeah, I feel good. It’s not easy, but it’s everything I’ve ever dreamed of, and so the grind is real. The offseason was really good, really beneficial for me and everybody included. So, I’m really excited for the year.”
That growth extends beyond football.
“Being a year older, a little more mature, that’s natural. But going through some and changing and handling your emotions and taking it on the chin like a man. And then learning how to be a man, being a year older, and then just more wisdom that I’ve been given from so many people.”
Much of that perspective came after Mateer broke his thumb in Week 4, underwent surgery performed by Dr. Steven Shin, and returned just 17 days later.
“You could say this and that, and it depends on what I want to have out there and stuff, but, I mean, it wasn’t easy, and I had to adapt and make some adjustments. I mean, you can imagine what it was like. Hopefully, it never happens to you.”
Mateer also declined to use the injury as an excuse after throwing three interceptions in Oklahoma’s loss to Texas.
“Yeah, looking forward to another opportunity. I’m not gonna sit here and make an excuse. We lost. I lost. But you can imagine. 17 days. There’s a couple other quarterbacks that have done it. It’s a little different. Jared Goff is a little higher on his thumb. Drew Brees tore a ligament. He was out for a little bit. Looking at all of it, you can imagine it was difficult.”
Returning that quickly was never much of a debate.
“Oh, it was a no-brainer. Dr. Shin, shout out, told me it was the plan. He said, ‘It’s not going to be easy, but you’re the guy for it.’ So, I appreciate him. Shout out again. But I wanted to play. I asked them to play Kent State, and they were like, ‘There’s no shot.’ But I was throwing during the week. It’s obviously not what I was, the way I was throwing normally, but then that Thursday, I took off the pitch count, and I was letting it fly a little bit. Threw a couple of corner routes, a couple fades, and I was like, ‘All right, let’s do it.’ No-brainer, no regrets.”
Looking back, Mateer said the season taught him how to navigate both success and adversity.
“I learned it’s a long year. You’ve got to play it week to week. You’ve got to have some stamina, some real stamina. But it’s fun. Even the struggles are fun. There’s real beauty in the struggle, and I learned a lot about that and just life and God and what He’s going to do to you. And it’s not always what you want, but it’s what’s going to help you out the most.”
He also credited head coach Brent Venables, general manager Jim Nagy and the rest of the staff for continuing to believe in him throughout the year.
“Well, I’ll start by saying that, as a young man, them having the belief in me, it means so much. It’s kind of like where your parents say they’re proud of you. It just makes you full. And so, I struggled. I really did. But they had my back the whole time. And there is nothing I can say. Those men mean a lot to me. All of them: Coach Arbuckle, Coach Kuceyeski, all the coaches. They’re great men. And so, them bringing me back and wanting me to be here and uplifting me to be who I am means the world. Them bringing in weapons, it’s to help the team. I can say to help me, but we’ve got a lot of good guys that are going to do a good job, and proud of them, because when you bring everybody together, it’s hard. How are they going to mix? But everybody’s super open, and they picked a lot of the right guys. They really did, and we’re feeling real good.”
Much of that confidence extends to Oklahoma’s offensive line.
“We’ve got some new faces. We’ve got a lot of returners, and so, them having a relationship with the guys, and they’ve been getting on each other a lot, and they’ve been raising the standard and doing a great job. So, I’m super proud of them and to be behind them for another year, of them as people and them as players. I feel really good about it.”
He also believes the Sooners are positioned to run the ball more effectively in 2026.
“Just the work we’ve put in, all those guys getting a year better, me getting a year better, running backs, the scheme, it should be good. We’ve worked real hard at it in the weight room and on the field.”
When asked which offensive players have stood out throughout the offseason, Mateer pointed to Oklahoma’s tight ends and veteran receivers.
“There’s a lot of guys. It’s a good question. But there’s a lot of guys that are doing a good job. A lot of young guys coming along. A lot of the tight ends are doing real well, and the receivers. Isaiah Sategna is really picking up the whole room. A lot of the seniors are picking up the room. A lot of those guys are coming along.”
What excites him most, however, is the continuity Oklahoma brings back on offense.
“There’s a lot of returners. So, I think us playing together, knowing where we’re going to be, that’s a big one. In my mind, the connection and the love of playing around guys that you really love, that’s the most exciting for me.”
