The Oklahoma Sooners have landed one of the biggest pickups of the transfer portal season, securing a commitment from former Washington State quarterback John Mateer. The redshirt sophomore sensation announced his decision to transfer to OU on Wednesday after a breakout 2024 campaign with the Cougars.
Mateer’s Magnificent Season
Mateer burst onto the scene in his first year as a starter in Pullman, throwing for an impressive 3,139 yards and 29 touchdowns while completing 65% of his passes. The dual-threat dynamo also made major contributions with his legs, rushing for 827 yards (6th among FBS QBs) and punching in 15 scores on the ground.
Under Mateer’s leadership, the Cougars got off to a scorching 8-1 start and earned a No. 18 ranking in the College Football Playoff rankings. Though they stumbled down the stretch with three straight losses to close the year, the 6-foot-1 signal caller established himself as one of the most electrifying young quarterbacks in the country.
High Praise from Coach Dickert
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Washington State head coach Jake Dickert had glowing reviews for his now former QB1:
“John will be the most sought-after player in the portal. I think he’s going to be the best player in the country next year.”
Jake Dickert, Washington State Head Coach
Dickert and WSU leadership attempted to negotiate a new deal to keep Mateer in crimson and gray for 2025, but the talented passer ultimately decided he wanted to “play on a bigger stage” for his final two seasons of eligibility. And stages don’t get much bigger than Owen Field in Norman.
Sooners’ New Brain Trust
Oklahoma underwent significant changes this offseason after a disappointing 6-6 record in their first year in the SEC. Head coach Brent Venables cleaned house on the offensive side of the ball, bringing in Washington State OC Ben Arbuckle and QBs coach John Kuceyeski.
Arbuckle, who helped develop Mateer into a star, was a hot commodity on the coaching carousel before ultimately deciding to follow his quarterback to the Sooner State. At just 29 years old, he’s one of the fast-rising offensive minds in the game.
Sources told ESPN that Mateer’s relationship with Arbuckle and Kuceyeski played a huge role in his decision, with Oklahoma fending off a strong push from Miami to land his services. The chance to reunite with his trusted coaches and play for a blueblood program proved too enticing to pass up.
Sooners’ QB Carousel
Mateer’s arrival is a huge boost for an Oklahoma squad that ranked a meager 94th nationally in scoring offense in 2024 at just 24.3 points per game – their worst output since 1998. He’ll have big shoes to fill though, as he looks to replace former starter Jackson Arnold, who transferred to Auburn this offseason.
With Arnold’s departure, true freshman Michael Hawkins Jr. started the Sooners’ final three games and is expected to be under center for the team’s Armed Forces Bowl matchup against Navy to close out the 2024 campaign. But barring something unforeseen, the keys to the OU offense will belong to Mateer when spring practice kicks off.
A New Era in Norman
For an Oklahoma program accustomed to competing for national titles, a 6-6 season and a berth in the Armed Forces Bowl are well below expectations. But with a talent like Mateer now on board and a young offensive guru in Arbuckle calling the shots, Venables and the Sooners are banking on a major turnaround in 2025.
If Mateer can come anywhere close to replicating his 2024 numbers in the SEC, the OU faithful will be expecting nothing less than a return to contention in a hurry. For a fan base not accustomed to mediocrity, the Washington State transfer represents a new hope – and a reason for genuine excitement heading into the offseason.
