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Chris Doering explains why John Mateer will win Heisman Trophy

IMG_0985by: Griffin McVeigh07/29/25griffin_mcveigh
NCAA Football: SEC Media Day
Jul 16, 2025; Atlanta, GA, USA; Oklahoma Sooners quarterback John Mateer answers questions from the media during the SEC Media Days at Omni Atlanta Hotel. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Godfree-Imagn Images

As the SEC welcomes a new wave of quarterbacks, not many are receiving as much love as Oklahoma‘s John Mateer. Plenty out there are high on what the Washington State transfer can do in Norman. Some even believe he could continue the recent Oklahoma tradition of winning the Heisman Trophy.

“I’m all in on him,” SEC Network’s Chris Doering said Monday on SEC Now. “I think this guy is going to be the SEC Player of the Year and I also think he’s going to win the Heisman Trophy.”

Before making his prediction, Doering explained what stands out about Mateer as a player. Having some continuity in the offense certainly helps the cause. But more than anything, Doering likes Mateer’s arm and what he might be able to create once plays break down.

“I’m high on him for a number of different reasons,” Doering said. “He’s got athletic ability, he’s comfortable in the offense that he’s already been running with Ben Arbuckle as the two come over together from Washington State. But I look at his arm strength and his ability to move outside the pocket and make plays when things break down.”

Mateer threw for 3,139 yards, 29 touchdowns, and seven interceptions while completing just under 65% of his throws. SEC teams will have to be wary of his run game too, going for 826 yards and 15 touchdowns on the ground with Washington State.

Those types of numbers, plus success at Oklahoma, will certainly put you in the Heisman Trophy conversation. If Mateer can help the Sooners get in the College Football Playoff conversation, an invite to New York City is impossible. And we have seen how OU quarterbacks fare there.

So that’s why team success is at the front of Mateer’s mind. More than anything, he wants to win games for Oklahoma throughout 2025. As the Sooners string together victories, the individual accolades and recognition will follow.

“I don’t think about the word ‘legacy’ a whole lot,” Mateer said at SEC Media Days. “I would like to win a lot of games and do it while playing as hard as I can. I’lll let the legacy happen however it should. You win and good things happen. So I just want to win a lot of games.”

We will get our first look at Mateer on Aug. 30 when Oklahoma plays Illinois State. Week 2 will be the first real test when Michigan comes to town. The Heisman campaign can really kick off if Mateer can perform well against the Wolverines.