Following a tough 41-13 loss to No. 2 Georgia on September 26, Oklahoma Sooners head coach Brent Venables addressed reporters about the possibility of benching quarterback John Mateer during the game. The Sooners’ offense has struggled throughout the season, except for a decisive 51-0 victory over UTEP in their opening match.
Since that win, Oklahoma has managed only 37 total points against the defenses of Michigan, New Mexico, and Georgia. The team, which entered the season ranked No. 10, has suffered losses to both Michigan and Georgia.
Looking ahead, Oklahoma aims to regroup as they prepare to face No. 1 Texas in the upcoming “Red River Rivalry” set for Saturday at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas. Though Texas enters as the favorite, the rivalry has a history of unexpected victories by the underdog.
Addressing the media regarding Oklahoma’s strategy against Texas, Coach Venables confirmed that Mateer remains the starting quarterback. However, he also noted that backups Whitt Newbauer and Bowe Bentley received significant practice reps recently. When questioned about the possibility of either Newbauer or Bentley seeing game time, Venables indicated uncertainty.
“We’ve got great belief in them, trust in them,” Venables stated, according to ESPN. “There’s a body of work that both of those guys, both Bowe and Whitt, have put out there and for us to evaluate. They’re doing a nice job, they’re working hard, improving incrementally and doing all the things that we want our quarterback to do as a whole, as a group.”
This statement serves as a cautionary note to Mateer, emphasizing the need for a strong performance to avoid being benched. The Sooners need to excel to defeat Texas.
In the first four games, Mateer has achieved 883 passing yards, eight touchdowns, and four interceptions. He had an impressive season in 2024 with Washington State, recording 3,139 yards, 29 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. Despite dealing with a hand injury last season, he managed 2,885 passing yards, 14 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions.
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