Greg McElroy reacts to Oklahoma's updated playoff chances after John Mateer injury

The news that Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer will be out for a few weeks after undergoing surgery on a broken bone in his hand rocked the college football world on Tuesday. Immediately, the pundits began analyzing the playoff chances for the Sooners.

At 4-0 to start the season, Oklahoma has already racked up a few key wins. But Mateer was instrumental in all of them.

Can you predict the Sooners will still make the College Football Playoffs at this juncture, knowing Mateer could miss a few games? Analyst Greg McElroy provided his take in an appearance on ESPN2 on Tuesday evening.

“Not right now you can’t,” McElroy said. “Because Texas you’re going to have to probably score some points against a really good defense. At South Carolina is the most winnable game remaining on your schedule and it’s on the road in a hostile environment against what might be a desperate South Carolina team. Everybody else is ranked and probably getting better.”

Oklahoma’s schedule the next few weeks is somewhat manageable. But how long it takes Mateer to get back will be pivotal.

Oklahoma Sooners Remaining Schedule
Sept. 27 – BYE
Oct. 4 – Kent State
Oct. 11 – vs. Texas (neutral site)
Oct. 18 – at South Carolina
Oct. 25 – Ole Miss
Nov. 1 – at Tennessee
Nov. 8 – BYE
Nov. 15 – at Alabama
Nov. 22 – Missouri
Nov. 29 – LSU

Most are projecting Mateer to return for Oklahoma by at least the Alabama game. McElroy also weighed in on the timeline.

“So I think right now they’re circling his return somewhere around Nov. 1,” McElroy said. “I think that’s pretty optimistic. If he can get back at that point maybe he’s in good shape for the home stretch. Man, it just seems like it’s asking an awful lot.”

If Oklahoma’s going to survive without its star quarterback, it’ll need a man who has served as the backup before to play at an even higher level.

“You’ve got to see where Michael Hawkins is at,” McElroy said. “He actually played quite a bit last year, he’s an athletic kid, very gifted runner. Little spotty from an accuracy standpoint last year. … This defense is probably a top two or three defense in all of college football, so they’re going to lean into that strength and play ball control and keep-away and not put too much on Michael Hawkins’ shoulders.”