John Mateer NFL Draft stock soars after Oklahoma win vs. Michigan

It was a coming-out party on Saturday night when the Oklahoma Sooners knocked off the Michigan Wolverines in the primetime game. A year removed from struggling in their transition to the SEC, particularly on the offensive side of the ball, quarterback John Mateer fully broke out and is now demanding attention.

Some of that attention is going to come from the NFL. It’s still very early in the process ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft, but ESPN analyst Matt Miller thinks his draft stock is soaring thanks to the win over Michigan.

“The Michigan defense was supposed to be the star of the show,” Matt Miller said. “But I couldn’t help but zero in on Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer. The Washington State transfer put the Sooners on his back with his strong right arm and mobility both inside and outside the pocket. Mateer rushed for 74 yards and a score, and he threw for another touchdown with 270 yards passing against a talented defense that features one of the country’s best D-lines.”

John Mateer was a three-star recruit in the Class of 2022. A native of Little Elm, Texas, Mateer was the 1,678th-ranked player overall and the 107th-ranked quarterback in that recruiting cycle. He’d end up at Washington State, working to become the starting quarterback there and eventually becoming a breakout star. He’d then follow his offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle to Oklahoma ahead of the 2025 season, looking to spark the Sooners on offense.

Mateer has now played in two games while at Oklahoma. The first came against FCS opponent Illinois State. Predictably, the Sooners took care of business, but with a major step up in competition in Week 2 against Michigan, all eyes were on Oklahoma. There, Mateer had an excellent game, completing 21 of 34 passes for 270 yards, a touchdown, and an interception. He’d also rush for 74 yards and another two touchdowns in the 24-13 win.

The Michigan game helped improve John Mateer’s Heisman Trophy odds. According to BetMGM, Mateer has jumped from +1300 to +800 odds to win the honor, which is second-best at this point. So, it’s not a surprise that Mateer has also seen his stock start to rise for the NFL Draft.

“Mateer (6-foot-1, 224 pounds) is a gunslinger,” Miller said. “And he’ll take a lot of chances with passes that will make you hold your breath — but he also makes plays many other college QBs simply aren’t making at this point in the season. Mateer’s arm strength, mobility, moxie and playmaking mindset make for a great watch. NFL scouts had a conservative Day 3 grade on Mateer this summer, but I’m seeing a player with enough starter traits to put him inside my top 50. And if he continues to play this well against SEC defenses, a Round 1 grade isn’t out of the question.”

It’s still a long season ahead. Oklahoma has 10 more regular seasons to go alone. That’s before any potential postseason games and the pre-draft process. So, it’s a long way to go for Mateer, and he’ll have plenty of chances to improve his NFL Draft standing.

For now, Mateer is going to be focused on Week 3. That’s an interesting road trip to Philadelphia to take on the Temple Owls.