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John Mateer explains choosing Oklahoma over Miami, North Carolina

IMG_0985by: Griffin McVeigh07/16/25griffin_mcveigh
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John Mateer. (Photo by: Carey Murdock - SoonerScoop.com/On3)

John Mateer was a must for Oklahoma once the Washington State product entered the NCAA transfer portal. Not only did the Sooners desperately need to upgrade the quarterback position, Mateer’s offensive coordinator, Ben Arbuckle, was now in Norman. No other option was there but to sign Mateer.

Oklahoma eventually got the job done and Mateer will lead them during the 2025 season. Other programs tried hard, though, to lure him away from OU. Ultimately, getting to play for Arbuckle again was just too good of an opportunity to pass up. Getting a chance to compete does not hurt, either.

“There was a lot that went into it but also I know [Ben Arbuckle],” Mateer said Wednesday at SEC Media Days. “It’s closer to home, you could say. I want my family to be closer, be able to get to the games because they couldn’t get to a lot of games in Pullman. But it’s also the SEC. I’m here on SEC Media Day, who doesn’t want to play in the SEC? Being with [Arbuckle], the same offense. They know me, I know them and they know what I need to play at the highest level and it’s the SEC. It’s Oklahoma. Who doesn’t want to play for Oklahoma?”

SEC Network’s Dari Nowkhah was the one asking Mateer the question. The schools he mentioned in contention with Oklahoma for the quarterback were Miami and North Carolina. Mario Cristobal wound up landing Carson Beck via Georgia, while Bill Belichick took Gio Lopez out of South Alabama. However, the Tar Heels will likely start Max Johnson to begin the 2025 season.

John Mateer hoping to continue success with Ben Arbuckle

As Mateer mentioned, the goal for the 2025 season is to continue the success he had with Arbuckle while at Washington State. He will be facing a new level of competition in the SEC, something Mateer gets excited about when thinking. And if similar numbers can be put up, we might be talking about him as a Heisman Trophy candidate.

Mateer threw for 3,139 yards, 29 touchdowns, and seven interceptions last season while completing 64.6% of his throws. Oklahoma will not be afraid to use him in the ground game either. With good reason as well, as Mateer rushed for 826 yards and an additional 15 scores.

No matter where Matter ended up, a big season was ahead of him. So when given the chance, Oklahoma made the most sense for him.