After disappointing results from the quarterback position during the 2024 season, the Oklahoma Sooners went out and found John Mateer in the transfer portal from Washington State. The 6-foot-1 quarterback arrived in Norman with high expectations and certainly turned heads through the first third of the season.
In Oklahoma’s first four games, Mateer averaged 304 passing yards per game and racked up six total touchdowns through the air. He went for 392 yards and three scores against Illinois State, 270 yards and one touchdown against No. 15 Michigan, 282 yards and one score against Temple, and 271 yards and one score against No. 22 Auburn. Mateer might not have necessarily been the Heisman Trophy favorite after four weeks, but he was certainly in the conversation with the Sooners off to a blistering 4-0 start.
That’s when things took a turn, though. Mateer injured his throwing hand in the game against Auburn, which prompted an in-season surgery to address the injury. When the news broke on Sept. 23, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported that Mateer’s recovery was “expected to be about a month,” which would put him on track to return at or right before the Tennessee game on Nov. 1.
That’s not what ended up happening.
Mateer was back on the field just over two weeks from his surgery to play against Texas in the Red River Shootout, which the Sooners lost 23-6. Mateeer was not good in that game, throwing for 202 yards, no touchdowns, and three interceptions on just 52.6% passing.
Since the Texas loss, Mateer has thrown for 150 yards against South Carolina and 223 yards against Ole Miss.
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Ultimately, Mateer went from averaging 304 yards per game before the injury to just 192 yards per game after it. The Sooners are also 1-2 since his return.
Still, though, Mateer doesn’t attribute his own struggles to the injury. While speaking to the media on Monday, Mateer chalked it up to the “ups and downs” of the game.
“It’s definitely not my thumb,” Mateer said, via OUDaily’s Joshua McDaniel. “I’ll tell you that, and I stand by that. My thumb is perfectly fine. I think it’s just the ups and downs with the flow of the game. I’m a human. I’m not perfect.”
While missing one game against Kent State due to the surgery, Mateer is still fourth in the SEC in average yards per game with 255.71. He’s also thrown for eight touchdowns and six interceptions. Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar, for comparison, is first in the SEC at 293 passing yards per game.
It’s been an up-and-down season for Mateer with the hot start before the injury and struggles after it. Mateer and the Sooners will look to get back on track against Tennessee this weekend in Neyland Stadium after a 34-26 home loss against Ole Miss last Saturday in Norman.
No. 14 Tennessee (6-2) will host No. 18 Oklahoma (6-2) at 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC this Saturday. Stay tuned to Rocky Top Insider for more Tennessee football coverage.
