Oklahoma, Brent Venables is paying John Mateer to save the future of football

He was in the transfer portal for 24 hours and it didn’t take long for him to decide on a new home and underscore the reality of college football today.

That was John Mateer in a 1Oklahoma Instagram post last week, staring into the camera as the graphic asked, “Sooner Nation, what are you asking Santa for this season?”

Mateer, the No. 1 player in the transfer portal and a former star quarterback at Washington State, held a football in one hand and flashed No. 1 in the other. The “No. 1” stands for 1Oklahoma – the collective arm of Oklahoma sports.

Mateer wasn’t even wearing Sooners gear when he signed.

It wasn’t long ago that coaches denounced the “untenable” world of NIL. Now they’re betting everything on it – even though pay-for-play is expected to arrive in fall 2025.

To Oklahoma coach Brent Venables’ credit, the Sooners were stuck at quarterback and he didn’t wait for things to get better. For rookie Michael Hawkins Jr. to find out, or for former five-star recruit Jackson Arnold to finally reach his potential.

A person in the college football industry familiar with the situation told USA TODAY Sports that 1Oklahoma offered Mateer, a rising junior, a multi-million dollar deal similar to what Miami offered Cam Ward in January paid, and Mateer then followed his offensive coordinator at Wazzu (Ben Arbuckle) to Norman. The person requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the negotiations.

They win in the SEC with an elite quarterback and disruptors on the defensive line. Oklahoma figured out the latter; The former has been a problem from the jump this season.

QUICK SOLUTION: Improving the College Football Playoff is easy

Ups and downs: Winners and losers of the first round of the playoffs

Without an upset against Alabama in late November, the Sooners would have finished with their worst conference record since 1936. Two measly wins in their first season in the SEC won’t change that.

Not with the history and tradition (and administrative support) in Norman. And more importantly, not if 1Oklahoma had anything to say about it.

Mateer was a rare talent in the portal, a quarterback who could change the fortunes of a program. Much like Ward, he will come to Oklahoma with simple stated goals.

Last dance, last chance – for Mateer and most likely for Venables too.

Mateer led the nation in total touchdowns (44) by throwing for 3,139 yards and 29 touchdowns and rushing for 826 yards and 15 scores. In other words, he’s exactly the dual threat Oklahoma thought Arnold was.

It was these expectations for Arnold at the end of 2023 that allowed Oklahoma to move on from Dillon Gabriel, another prolific quarterback in the portal. Venables said the Sooners didn’t let Gabriel walk away, who transferred to Oregon after throwing 42 touchdowns (and just six interceptions) in his final season in Norman.

Gabriel responded, saying in September, “God has put me exactly where I need to be.”

At this point, the results tell the story. Gabriel is Oregon’s No. 1 prospect in the College Football Playoff and was a Heisman Trophy finalist. Arnold was traded midway through the season and eventually transferred to Auburn earlier this month.

Hawkins says he’s staying with Norman, and Venables also added quarterback Cole Gonzales from Western Carolina. But the 2025 season is all about Mateer.

When Mateer announced he was leaving Washington State, then-Cougars coach Jake Dickert (he has since accepted the job at Wake Forest) said that Mateer was offered a “seven-figure” deal to remain in Pullman, and that: ” He’ll be the one. “Next year I’ll be the best player in the country.”

Oklahoma still needs reinforcements around Mateer, and it doesn’t help that it lost five wide receivers (including star Nic Anderson) and tight end Bauer Sharp to the portal. There is still time to fill the personnel gaps, but there is little doubt what this signing means for Oklahoma and Venables.

The Sooners cannot struggle again in 2025 and fall further behind their bitter rival and SEC expansion brother Texas. The Longhorns are preparing for a quarterfinal game in the CFP.

Oklahoma plays Navy in the Armed Forces Bowl on Friday.

“I’m excited about John (Mateer),” Venables said this week. “He is experienced. He has great arm talent and really good instincts. He will make us better.”

Maybe Mateer, who grew up in Little Elm, Texas, in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, simply wanted to play closer to home. Maybe he wanted to follow Arbuckle, or maybe a conversation with Sooners legend Baker Mayfield convinced him.

Or maybe Venables made it clear to 1Oklahoma that Mateer was the answer and the collective took over.

“It’s a very competitive field, as everyone knows,” Venables said.

And Mateer and Venables are now linked in a very competitive and unforgiving conference.

Last dance, last chance.

Matt Hayes is the senior national college football writer for USA TODAY Sports Network. Follow him to X @MattHayesCFB.

Related Posts

Jayson Tatum explains his illness that caused him to miss the Magic game

Zoe Dale, Dallas Cowboys cheerleader

Bears president: HC job will be NFL’s ‘most coveted’ role after Matt Eberflus firing | News, results, highlights, statistics and rumors

Leave a Reply Cancel reply