Oklahoma’s quarterback situation just hit DEFCON 1 after their brutal 41-13 loss to No. 2 Georgia. It’s not just that they lost, it’s *how* they lost, with John Mateer putting up one of the most disastrous performances college football has seen this year. Coach Brent Venables now has a massive problem on his hands, and only two weeks to fix it before the Red River Rivalry.
A Fumble Frenzy That Cost Everything
Mateer’s day started slow, but it absolutely imploded in the second quarter. The Sooners were knocking on the door, sitting at Georgia’s 2-yard line, when Mateer rolled out to pass. He loaded up, then *fumbled the ball*, and Georgia scooped it up, taking it 85 yards to the house for a touchdown. That’s a gut-wrenching 14-point swing right there, changing the entire complexion of the game in an instant. You just can’t do that.
But Mateer wasn’t done. On the very next possession, he had all the time in the world in a clean pocket. Instead of finding an open man, he waited until pressure was in his face and threw a weak, underthrown pass right into heavy coverage. Naturally, KJ Bolden picked it off easily. While the defense managed to bail him out with a quick three-and-out, Mateer made *another* crucial error on the ensuing drive. On a critical fourth-and-1, he fumbled again! Georgia recovered, returning it to the Oklahoma 11-yard line, and two plays later, they were in the end zone. Just like that, the game was over, no doubt about it. Mateer’s final numbers of 231 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception got padded by garbage time, making them look way better than the ugly truth.
This Ain’t No One-Off Mistake, Folks
Look, if Mateer was just a game manager, someone who took care of the ball, maybe you could work with it given how talented that Oklahoma defense is. But he’s not. These weren’t isolated incidents; this is a pattern of catastrophic mistakes that have absolutely cost his team. In *both* of Oklahoma’s losses this season, Mateer has been the architect of his own downfall.
Remember the Michigan game? Midway through the fourth quarter, Mateer threw an ill-advised interception that set Michigan up with first-and-goal inside the 10-yard line. Two plays later, Michigan scored the game-winning touchdown. On Saturday against Georgia, the mistakes came early and often, digging a hole so deep the Sooners had zero chance of climbing out. It’s one thing to be a bit inaccurate or inefficient, but being this prone to critical, game-changing turnovers is a whole different beast. Coach Venables admitted after the game that a QB change was “something we discussed,” adding that “you’ll look at everything in how to get better.” He absolutely should be looking at everything.
The Sooners have two weeks to figure out how to get significantly better play at quarterback before they face the No. 1 Texas Longhorns in Dallas. This isn’t just another game, it’s the Red River Rivalry, and with Mateer making these kinds of errors, Oklahoma’s going to need a miracle or a new signal-caller if they want any shot at beating Texas. It’s go time, and the Emerald City is watching how they respond.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
Leave a Reply