Oklahoma is standing by its quarterback. Despite a turnover-plagued stretch that has the Sooners at 3-3, offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle insisted on Tuesday that John Mateer remains the team’s best option under center — while making one thing clear: the catastrophic mistakes have to stop.
Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer (Credits: ESPN)
Arbuckle’s Message: Eliminate the Errors
Arbuckle is in his fourth year working with Mateer and knows what the quarterback is capable of — from the 44 touchdowns he accounted for when they were together at Washington State in 2024 to leading the Sooners to the College Football Playoff last season. Asked why Oklahoma keeps rolling with the redshirt senior, the 31-year-old playcaller did not hesitate: everything Mateer has done, the player he is, and the preparation he puts in convince the staff he gives the Sooners their best chance to win.
But the condition was explicit. Arbuckle said the team has to eliminate what he called backbreaking, catastrophic errors — for all the good Mateer does, those mistakes have to go. And he took the blame himself, saying that as the play-caller and play designer, he has to be better and take accountability whenever those errors happen.
A Roller-Coaster Season
The numbers explain the concern. Mateer is responsible for nine of Oklahoma’s 14 turnovers this season, including seven interceptions. He has also been playing behind a banged-up offensive line — three regulars missed Saturday’s loss to Kentucky with injuries, and versatile lineman Ryan Fodje suffered an ankle injury late in the third quarter and struggled to play through it.
The contrast could not be starker. After a turnover-free performance in the 27-24 upset of No. 1 Texas — capped by two impressive throws on the final drive to set up the game-ending field goal — Mateer matched his career high with three interceptions in the 21-13 home loss to No. 12 Kentucky. He completed 24 of 40 passes for 270 yards and a touchdown, but two of his picks came in the game’s final 16 minutes, and the Wildcats turned both into touchdowns.
Through six games, Mateer has thrown for 1,308 yards, nine touchdowns, and seven interceptions while completing 65.1% of his passes. The Sooners now head to Mississippi State on Saturday, with their College Football Playoff hopes hanging by a thread.
Also Read: UCLA’s Nico Iamaleava Out for Season After Knee Surgery; Ty Dieffenbach Named Starter
Source: ESPN — read the full story there.
