Following a heavy 41-13 defeat to the No. 2 ranked Georgia on September 26, Brent Venables, head coach of the Oklahoma Sooners, revealed that the coaching staff considered benching quarterback John Mateer during the game.
The Sooners’ offense has struggled throughout the season, aside from a 51-0 victory over UTEP in their opening game. Since then, Oklahoma has managed only 37 points in games against Michigan, New Mexico, and Georgia. The team, previously ranked No. 10 entering the season, suffered losses to both Michigan and Georgia.
Looking to bounce back, Oklahoma is set to play No. 1 Texas in the “Red River Rivalry” on Saturday at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas. While Texas enters as the favorite, history shows that the underdog has often triumphed in this rivalry.
During discussions about facing Texas, Venables stated that Mateer remains “our starting quarterback.” However, he also mentioned that backups Whitt Newbauer and Bowe Bentley received significant practice reps last week.
When questioned about the potential playing time for Newbauer or Bentley, Venables expressed uncertainty. His response serves as a clear indication to Mateer—the need for improved performance is critical as the Sooners aim to upset Texas.
“We’ve got great belief in them, trust in them,” Venables commented, according to ESPN. “There’s a body of work that both of those guys, both Bowe and Whitt, have put out there and for us to evaluate. They’re doing a nice job, they’re working hard, improving incrementally and doing all the things that we want our quarterback to do as a whole, as a group.”
In the initial four games, Mateer has thrown for 883 yards, producing eight touchdowns and four interceptions. During his standout season at Washington State in 2024, he amassed 3,139 yards, 29 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. Last season, Mateer coped with a broken bone in his hand, finishing with 2,885 passing yards, 14 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions.
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