Where did John Mateer rank in USA TODAY Sports SEC QB rankings?
Matt Hayes of USA TODAY Sports ranked the starting quarterbacks in the SEC. Where did Oklahoma QB John Mateer land?
The Oklahoma Sooners will conclude spring football this week with a couple more practices before concluding spring ball for 2026. It was a strong performance from the Sooners ' offense, particularly quarterback John Mateer and the rushing attack. For Oklahoma to return to the College Football Playoff in 2026, OU will need both Mateer and the running game to improve significantly and be more consistent than they were a year ago.
The Sooners have one of the better quarterbacks in the SEC, but Mateer ranked No. 7 in the SEC by Matt Hayes of USA TODAY Sports coming out of spring ball. What looked like a breakout season in 2025 was sidetracked in late September by a thumb injury, and Mateer never really got it back.
Five starters return on the offensive line. Better protection, better results. - Hayes, USA TODAY Sports Mateer got healthier, and his grip got stronger as the season went on, and he finished with a pair of 300-yard passing performances to close the season.
Healthy still, Mateer completed 12 of 19 passes for 192 yards and a touchdown. Along with the return to health of Mateer, the Oklahoma Sooners made a significant push in the offseason to improve the offensive talent. They added wide receivers Trell Harris and Parker Livingstone, and while neither played in the spring game on Saturday, both are expected to contribute significantly in 2026.