John Mateer among CFB QBs facing the most pressure this year
· Yahoo Sports
Oklahoma Sooners starting quarterback John Mateer is putting in plenty of work this offseason to improve from an up-and-down first season at OU in 2025. With the Sooners looking to make strides as an offense again in 2026, some believe that's he's under more pressure to perform this year.
Visit playerbros.org for more information.
Athlon Sports' Steve Lassan ranked his top 10 college football quarterbacks who are facing the most pressure in 2026, and Mateer made the list. Lassan thinks the redshirt senior has to lead a more productive offensive attack for Oklahoma this season.
"Mateer’s transfer to Oklahoma from Washington State was one of the most intriguing quarterback storylines of the ‘25 season. The Texas native started the year on a high note with three touchdown passes against Illinois State, guided the Sooners to a win over Michigan and threw for 271 yards and a touchdown to beat Auburn in the SEC opener. However, a thumb injury in that game forced Mateer to miss one contest (Kent State) and hindered his play for the remainder of the ‘25 campaign. Mateer’s overall numbers were solid (2,885 yards and 14 touchdowns and 431 yards and eight scores). But is there another level he can reach in ‘26 with better health and another year to develop under coordinator Ben Arbuckle? For Oklahoma to reach the College Football Playoff once again, Mateer and the offense has to be more productive." - Steve Lassan, Athlon Sports.
Fortunately for Mateer and the Sooners, he won't be alone in his quest to improve this year. Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Ben Arbuckle and quarterbacks coach John Kuceyeski have been working with him since last season ended, trying to improve his footwork and mechanics.
Additionally, Oklahoma returns four starting offensive linemen, and the Sooners found a fifth in the transfer portal. Both of the team's top two leading rushers return, and the tight end room was completely revamped again this winter. Mateer's leading target in the passing game returns, and OU added a couple of projected starting wideouts in the portal as well. All of these moves should serve to help take some of the pressure off of Mateer, provided that the Sooners can stay healthy.
At the same time, the continued improvement of the offense, or lack thereof, will certainly fall on Mateer's shoulders. Such is the life of being the starting quarterback at a place like Oklahoma.
Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes and opinions. You can also follow Aaron on X@Aaron_Gelvin.
This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Athlon Sports thinks OU's Mateer is under some pressure this season