The Oklahoma Sooners are hoping Year 2 in the SEC goes better than Year 1, and if it happens, it will be in large part because of their recent quarterback pick up in John Mateer.
After sitting behind Cam Ward in 2023, Mateer took the reins for the Wazzu offense in 2024 and turned into a star almost overnight, throwing for 3,139 yards and 29 touchdowns while completing 65% of his passes and adding 827 rushing yards and 15 rushing touchdowns on the ground.
He ended the regular season ranked fifth in total offense (330.4 ypg) and leads the country with 44 total touchdowns on the year.
But Mateer had other offers, and according to Josh Pate, the No. 1 transfer portal quarterback actually had more lucrative offers than the Sooners.
Pate said on his show this week, Josh Pate’s College Football Show, “Miami wanted him. Miami wanted him bad. I do not have exact dollar figures… I’d be willing to think he took less to play for Oklahoma, than he would have gotten at Miami. But that is not it. This was not just A vs. B. North Carolina was a major player. Bill Belichick and North Carolina were major players here. I have it on fairly good authority that his highest offer would have ended up being in Chapel Hill… it is my working theory that i have not proven, based on guided knowledge, that Oklahoma was the third-highest offer, and he chose them anyway.”
Pate goes on to note that Mateer followed his offensive coordinator, Ben Arbuckle, to Norman, where he was hired for the same position he had with Wazzu.
Getting an experienced and proven quarterback was priority 1A for the Sooners, and with Mateer now secured, OU can shift its focus to surrounding him with protection and dynamic playmakers.
Then, it will be up to Arbuckle and Mateer to help an offense that was anemic in 2024. The Sooners finished No. 15 of 16 teams in both scoring offense and total offense. Arbuckle replaces Seth Littrell, who was fired in late October as Oklahoma was on its way to a 2-6 season in the SEC and a 6-6 overall.
Oklahoma will play Navy in the Armed Forces Bowl. The 22nd edition of the Armed Forces Bowl will be played Friday, Dec. 27, at TCU’s Amon G. Carter Stadium. Kickoff will be 11 a.m. CT.
