Oklahoma QB John Mateer Ranked 19th in ESPN's Power 4 Starting QB Rankings

Mateer looks to bounce back in his redshirt senior season after an up-and-down 2025 campaign.

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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Oklahoma Sooners quarterback John Mateer has been ranked 19th out of 68 projected starting quarterbacks at Power 4 conference schools by ESPN's Bill Connelly. Mateer, who is entering his redshirt senior season, had an uneven 2025 campaign that was impacted by a broken thumb. However, with a full offseason in offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle's system, Mateer is poised to take a step forward and lead the Sooners back to the College Football Playoff.

Why it matters

Mateer's ranking and performance will be crucial for Oklahoma's hopes of returning to the CFP in 2026. As a dual-threat quarterback, his ability to make plays with both his arm and legs is a key part of the Sooners' offense. If Mateer can cut down on mistakes and provide more consistent production, Oklahoma's offense could become more balanced and dangerous.

The details

In 2025, Mateer attempted over 440 dropbacks and had more than 120 non-sack rushes, one of only four quarterbacks in the Power 4 to do so. However, he struggled with decision-making at times, leading to some "extremely mistake-prone games." Now with a full year in coordinator Ben Arbuckle's system, Mateer is expected to take a step forward in 2026 and lead the Sooners' offense to new heights.

  • Mateer returned to Oklahoma for his redshirt senior season in 2026.
  • ESPN's Bill Connelly released his rankings of the top 68 projected starting quarterbacks at Power 4 conference schools on March 5, 2026.

The players

John Mateer

The starting quarterback for the Oklahoma Sooners, entering his redshirt senior season in 2026.

Ben Arbuckle

The offensive coordinator for the Oklahoma Sooners, who Mateer will continue to play under in 2026.

Michael Hawkins Jr.

Mateer's former backup at Oklahoma, who transferred to West Virginia in January 2026.

Scotty Fox Jr.

The sophomore quarterback at West Virginia who will compete with Hawkins for the starting job.

Bill Connelly

An ESPN analyst who ranked the top 68 projected starting quarterbacks at Power 4 conference schools for the 2026 season.

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What they’re saying

“Only four quarterbacks attempted more than 440 dropbacks and more than 120 non-sack rushes in 2025; only Mateer did it in 12 games. He took a physical pounding in Norman, and the correlation between what he thought he could get away with and what he actually got away with wasn't always as strong as it could have been. (Translation: He had a few extremely mistake-prone games.)”

— Bill Connelly, ESPN Analyst (ESPN)

“In terms of fit, this one's quite intriguing. Hawkins will have to beat out sophomore Scotty Fox Jr. for the job -- Fox had a couple of great games and a couple of horrific ones in six late-2025 starts -- but I love the vision of grabbing Hawkins, a former four-star prospect who didn't prove much with his arm in two years in Norman but could shine if he gets his legs more involved.”

— Bill Connelly, ESPN Analyst (ESPN)

What’s next

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The takeaway

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