The air in Norman is thick with hype that you’d swear it’s August, and all eyes are just glued to spring practice. Brent Venables isn’t just facing pressure; it’s a full-blown crisis. After a disappointing 6-7 season in 2024, many thought Oklahoma had hit rock bottom. Turns out, there was further to fall, and analysts have ratcheted up the stakes. Now, all hope seemingly rests on Venables’ transfer quarterback, John Mateer.
Brent Venables brought Mateer to Norman for a reason—the QB’s got talent. Despite Mateer’s impressive performance at Washington State, where he led the team to an 8-5 record, his potential breakout season flew under the radar. Had he put up those numbers elsewhere, he’d be a serious Heisman contender. But the current narrative has shifted, and CFB analyst Brandon Drumm sees eerie similarities between Mateer and Baker Mayfield, sparking a divisive debate among Oklahoma fans. He tweeted, “John Mateer’s mannerisms and just overall look on the field is very much eerily similar to a certain QB that wore 6 back in the day.” While some are eager to embrace the comparison, envisioning Mateer replicating Mayfield’s backyard brawler magic, others remain skeptical.
That’s a massive compliment, no doubt. But analyst Joe DeLeone isn’t buying the hype. On The Ruffino & Joe Show—Weekly College Football Show, he shut down the narrative, saying, “Can we calm down with the John Mateer stuff? Like, seriously, this is why I kept him off the list. He played G5-adjacent football last year, he’s got some nice athleticism; he’s got an OK arm he could be really good this upcoming year; totally good; he could finish as a top five quarterback in the conference.” Now, it’s not like Mateer’s getting hyped for nothing.
Mateer threw for 3,139 yards with 29 touchdowns and just 7 interceptions last season. But comparing him to one of Oklahoma’s G.O.A.T. players before he’s even taken a snap is, as DeLeone points out, premature. “But this hype for this kid is souring for me, because I was excited about him coming in, but hearing some media folks refer to him as Baker Mayfield, one of the greatest college quarterbacks of all time. It’s gross, like, holy sh-t, let the kid play before we put that on him.”
Let’s be real: Venables’ Sooners were a disaster last season, offensively speaking. In early 2024, Oklahoma ranked second-to-last in the SEC for scoring offense, managing a measly 24.3 points per game. Then, against all odds, they stunned Alabama, pulling off a massive upset. Now, with John Mateer—touted as one of the best transfer QBs around—they’re hoping for a dramatic turnaround. Sounds good, right? Well, hold your horses.
Last year’s offense was abysmal, and the new OC, Ben Arbuckle, has a lot to prove. To add to the uncertainty, Venables is now calling the defensive plays, stating, “because I am good at it.” That doesn’t exactly inspire confidence. However, unlike DeLeone, analyst Blake Ruffino believes the new offensive coordinator could be just what John Mateer and the team need.
Can the John Mateer-Arbuckle combo revive the Sooners?
For Brent Venables, this season is make-or-break. In 2024, Oklahoma hit rock bottom, demanding a complete overhaul. Realistically, though, Venables’s continued presence is largely due to his hefty $34.9 million buyout after the 2025 season. They can’t simply fire him, leaving the Sooners with a stark choice: succeed or fail. With Oklahoma’s projected 2025 win total hovering around a mere 6.3 and a brutal schedule looming, can a new OC from Washington rekindle the offense with his trusted QB? We can only hope.
Many harbor doubts about Ben Arbuckle, and skepticism is understandable. However, the numbers don’t lie. Arbuckle’s track record speaks volumes. In 2024, he not only orchestrated Washington State’s offense but transformed it into a high-powered machine. The Cougars excelled across the board, ranking 12th nationally in scoring at 36.8 points per game. Their passing game was particularly explosive, securing top-10 positions in several key categories: sixth in passing touchdowns (30), eighth in yards per attempt (9.1), ninth in passing efficiency (165.2), and 12th in yards per completion (13.9).
Furthermore, they ranked 14th in yards per play (6.7), 22nd in total offense (440.4 yards per game), and 24th in both passing yards per game (268.8) and rushing touchdowns (27). This is precisely what analyst Blake Ruffino emphasizes: “John Mateer and a new offensive coordinator is going to do wonders for them. They’re not going to go six and seven this year.” But, as DeLeone rightly points out, this doesn’t automatically translate to a championship run. He provided Venables a dose of reality, stating, “They’re going to improve, but this expectation that they’re a national championship team is weird.” Is a Sooner revival ‘weirdly’ possible, or just plain wishful thinking? Kickoff answers all.
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