John Mateer, the Oklahoma Sooners’ starting QB, made an impression in spring camp, not just with his sharp execution but also with his confidence and composure. After a turbulent 2024 season, OU needed a change under center. From early signs, Mateer could be precisely that.
A CFB analyst thinks the Sooners will have a clear edge in multiple matchups with him at the helm. Could this be the beginning of a resurgence in Norman?
Analyst Sees Edge for Sooners with John Mateer at QB
On3 analyst J.D. PicKell isn’t holding back regarding the Sooners’ 2025 outlook. He’s high on John Mateer and believes the quarterback can give Oklahoma a much-needed edge and take them back to where they’re used to being offensively.
(subject to change)… but I counted 10 of 12 games that Oklahoma will have a QB advantage with John Mateer pulling the trigger…
The plot thickens.https://t.co/oHnothboMN pic.twitter.com/aMQ4XAuLj0
— J.D. PicKell (@jdpickell) May 29, 2025
“…But I counted 10 of 12 games that Oklahoma will have a QB advantage with John Mateer pulling the trigger,” On3’s JD PicKell wrote on X.
He singled out Michigan Wolverines freshman QB Bryce Underwood as someone Mateer could outshine heading into fall and potentially beyond.
“I think it’s very very sneaky that Oklahoma is going to have the (QB) advantage in a lot of those games. Let’s start with Michigan, okay, Bryce Underwood, I think he’s going to be awesome. However, his first road start if he ends up being the guy for you…” PicKell said on X.
PicKell sees Mateer among the nation’s top QBs. He thinks South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers and LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier are the only two teams with “superior” QBs to Mateer this season.
Mateer has stepped into one of college football’s most storied quarterback legacies, and he knows it. Few programs have produced elite signal-callers like Oklahoma, especially since 1999, when the Sooners’ quarterback pipeline began turning out stars annually.
In 2024, Jackson Arnold was expected to be the next Oklahoma breakout name, but that didn’t happen. He was benched four games into the season, returned later, and saw an offensive coordinator change midseason.
When head coach Brent Venables brought Ben Arbuckle to take over play-calling duties, Arnold entered the transfer portal and landed at Auburn under Hugh Freeze.
Arbuckle didn’t come alone; he brought Mateer from Washington State. Now, the reins of the Sooners’ offense are firmly in Mateer’s hands. The pressure is real, but so is the potential. Early signs suggest Mateer may carve out his legacy among Oklahoma’s quarterback greats.
KEEP READING: Nick Saban Highlights Julian Sayin’s Accuracy and Judgment in Ohio State QB Battle
Oklahoma will open the 2025 season at home against Illinois State on Aug. 30. Then, they’ll travel to Temple on Sept. 13 and enter conference play.
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in football, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, and baseball!
