Is John Mateer Getting Benched? Oklahoma’s QB Could Be One Bad Drive From the Sideline vs. Texas

John Mateer will start at quarterback for Oklahoma against No. 1 Texas. The more interesting question is whether he’ll finish.

A month ago, that would have sounded ridiculous. Mateer entered the season as one of the most recognizable quarterbacks in college football, a former Heisman Trophy contender and the experienced veteran Oklahoma believed could carry it into the College Football Playoff.

Now? He has committed six turnovers over his past three games, and Oklahoma’s offense has cratered against quality competition. Brent Venables admitted the Sooners considered benching him during their 41-13 humiliation against Georgia. And while Venables keeps saying Mateer is his starter, backups Whitt Newbauer and Bowe Bentley got significant work during Oklahoma’s bye week.

All of which brings Mateer to just about the worst place imaginable for a quarterback trying to find his confidence again: the Cotton Bowl, against No. 1 Texas, in the Red River Rivalry.

He isn’t just trying to beat Oklahoma’s biggest rival on Saturday. He may be playing to keep his job.

How John Mateer’s season fell apart so fast

This isn’t how Mateer’s final college season was supposed to go.

The Washington State transfer followed offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle from Pullman to Norman before the 2025 season, and he showed up with enormous expectations. He delivered right away, enough to become one of the biggest names in the sport.

The trajectory looks a lot different now. On top of the six turnovers in three games, the Sooners have struggled badly every time the competition has stepped up. Oklahoma is averaging just 11.5 points against Power Four opponents this season.

Georgia was the breaking point. Mateer turned it over three times in the first half alone, including a disastrous fumble near the goal line that the Bulldogs returned for a touchdown. Venables later acknowledged his staff discussed a quarterback change at halftime.

They didn’t make one, and Mateer finished the game. But once a coaching staff seriously talks about pulling its starting quarterback, that conversation doesn’t go away just because the answer was no that afternoon. Especially when Texas is next.

Brent Venables insists Mateer is still Oklahoma’s starting QB

Venables hasn’t formally opened up the job.

“John’s our starting quarterback,” he told reporters during the bye week.

That’s about as definitive as it gets. Everything surrounding that statement was a lot less so.

Venables also revealed that Newbauer and Bentley got plenty of practice reps, and he praised both for how they’ve developed. When asked whether either one might play against Texas, he wouldn’t rule it out.

“I have no idea,” Venables said. “We’re not there right now.”

Maybe that’s just a coach using an off week to develop his backups. Maybe it’s also a warning, and Mateer would be smart to take it as one. Oklahoma can’t afford another first half like the one it put up against Georgia and simply hope its veteran figures it out eventually. Not against Texas.

Whitt Newbauer or Bowe Bentley? Oklahoma’s backup options are very different

If Venables does make a move, he has two intriguing choices, and they couldn’t be much further apart.

Newbauer is the experienced option. The 6-foot-6 quarterback started seven games at Mercer, completing 56% of his passes for 1,398 yards, 12 touchdowns and four interceptions while helping the Bears reach the FCS quarterfinals. The catch is that he’s barely played since arriving in Norman.

Bentley is the upside play. The four-star recruit out of Celina, Texas, threw for 2,911 yards and 32 touchdowns and completed 77% of his passes as a high school senior.

Throwing a true freshman out there against No. 1 Texas in the Cotton Bowl would be an enormous gamble. So would waiting too long if Mateer keeps giving the ball away. That’s the box Venables is in.

Oklahoma can’t let loyalty cost it the Texas game

Mateer has earned some patience. He’s a veteran and a captain, and he’s proven he can play at a high level. His teammates clearly still believe in him, too.

Safety Peyton Bowen said he checks in on Mateer regularly and thinks the quarterback just needs to find his confidence again.

“He just has to get his swagger back,” Bowen said.

He’s probably right. But swagger isn’t a game plan.

At some point, Oklahoma has to stop waiting for the quarterback Mateer used to be and judge the one who is actually running its offense right now. Six turnovers in three games isn’t a blip. Neither is 11.5 points per game against Power Four teams, and neither is getting run off the field by Georgia.

The Sooners could afford to ride it out with Mateer in that game because it was already slipping away from them. They won’t have that luxury on Saturday.

Why John Mateer’s leash should be short against Texas

Venables shouldn’t announce some artificial rule like two interceptions and you’re out, or three bad drives and you’re done. Football doesn’t work that way.

But Oklahoma also can’t let Mateer’s reputation make decisions that should be based on what’s happening on the field. If he looks comfortable, takes care of the football and gets the offense moving, let him play. If he looks like the guy who coughed it up three times in the first half against Georgia? Venables needs to act, and he needs to do it quickly.

The Red River Rivalry is no place for a rehab project. Oklahoma is facing the No. 1 team in the country, and its margin for error is already microscopic.

Mateer will get the first shot to prove the past few weeks were a fluke, and he deserves that much. But for the first time this season, he shouldn’t be guaranteed the last one.

John Mateer is still Oklahoma’s starting quarterback. On Saturday against Texas, he may have to prove it one drive at a time.