Sooners QB John Mateer sent a message to the rest of the SEC that should scare everyone if he were to come back in 2026
The Sooners will have their QB and system for two straight seasons if Mateer comes back in 2026.
This season was not kind to the Oklahoma Sooners on offense. It wasn’t nearly as bad as 2024, but it wasn’t good enough. If the Sooners had a good offense all year, we may be talking about them as one of the best teams we have seen in some time.
However, 2026 could be much different. If QB John Mateer returns, and the same offensive system stays in place under offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle, this offense could be elite. It has the makings to be just that – elite, and they know it.
“I think when you look at any first-year offense — it’s hard… Any second year, you look at the stats, is going to be more successful,” Mateer told reporters after the College Football Playoff loss at home to the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Oklahoma Sooners need to have as much continuity as possible on offense in 2026
The Sooners have already had a few guys plan to enter the transfer portal, which opens on Jan. 2 and closes Jan. 16. Not many are offensive players, and none of them are key offensive players. The Sooners are set to lose quite a few guys on that side of the ball to graduation or the NFL Draft, though.
Oklahoma should still, and almost always, have a great defense next season. 2026 could look similar to 2025, with the Sooners having an elite defense and special teams. But the offense could be the difference-maker. As Venables has already said, this team is just getting started.
John Mateer 2025 stats
- 62.2% completion rate
- 2885 yards
- 14 passing touchdowns
- 11 interceptions
- 431 rushing yards
- 8 rushing touchdowns
What Mateer is saying about the offense only getting better should definitely scare everyone if he returns. He struggled this season mightily; however, he wasn’t always healthy, and he’s still fairly young with not as much football having been played as you’d expect. Another year with this team in this offense, and the whole thing could be scary for the SEC.
Of course, with how the CFB world is today, the exact opposite could happen, and the Sooners could be a bad football team again; you never know.
Oklahoma Sooners News
Brent Venables made it very clear he wants one starter back in 2026 even after the terrible season he just had
Brent Venables and the Sooners would love to have John Mateer back in 2026.
