Sooners’ play that ended their 2025 season is not the same one fans have on their mind
The Sooners lost a home playoff game to Alabama.
The Oklahoma Sooners’ magical season is now over. Unfortunately, it ended in a way no one wants to remember, a loss to the Alabama Crimson Tide in a game they should have won. Blowing a 17-point lead doesn’t happen with just one play – it’s a multitude of plays that lead up to that moment.
That’s why the play that officially ended their Sooners’ season is not the pick-six thrown by quarterback John Mateer. Yes, that play was bad, and it shouldn’t have happened. However, something before that was the telltale signs that a blown lead was about to come. The missed deep ball by Mateer to Xavier Robinson was the dagger.
Sooners’ John Mateer missed a touchdown to Robinson before the half
There was a play that would have been one of the best of the entire season, but it fell just short. Mateer was about to be sacked by a Bama defender, but he somehow managed to escape. While on the run, Mateer throws the ball across his body deep down the field, and it hits running back Xavier Robinson square in the hands. It then goes through Robinson’s hands. That is the play that ended the Sooners’ season.
“I’m not mad with the decision John made,” offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle told reporters after the loss. “He saw a wide-open man downfield and delivered a really good ball.”
Many think Mateer should have run the ball ahead for a first down, but he was thinking dagger. And, sure, many can say now that he should have done something else, but he made the right play. He is not the one people should be angry at. Mateer made a play that seemed almost impossible; the other side of the equation did not.
But as we all know, Mateer will still take credit for the “bad” play.
“I’ve gotta put it in his nose,” Mateer said.
This is the play that ended the season because that drop pretty much took all the wind out of the Sooners’ sails. They then punted the ball, but it was blocked. That blocked punt led to a Bama score with great field position for them. Then, the very next possession, Mateer throws that pick-six, and the game is tied at the half after having a 17-point lead.
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