2026 Oklahoma Sooners quarterback outlook
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The Oklahoma Sooners‘ offense improved in 2025. It was better, helping the Sooners make the College Football Playoff with timely scores and complementary football. But the offense still has work to do in 2026 if Oklahoma wants to get back to the playoffs and contend for a national championship.
Football is a team game, but the quarterback position has the greatest influence on offensive production. How the quarterback goes is often how the offense goes. In 2025, it was up and down after John Mateer suffered a thumb injury in the win over Auburn. It took much of the remainder of the season for Mateer to find the same level of effectiveness that we saw against Michigan and Auburn, when he averaged 270.5 passing yards in the two wins.
Mateer made his return against Texas less than three weeks after having thumb surgery. From the Red River Rivalry return through the Missouri game, Mateer averaged 174.2 yards per game, threw four touchdowns, and had four interceptions. Mateer’s yards per attempt dropHe had some good moments, but there was a difference in the way he was throwing the ball. He wasn’t as confident pushing the ball downfield, and his accuracy was off.
However, in Oklahoma’s final two games against LSU and Alabama, Mateer averaged 312.5 passing yards per game. Even though his touchdown-to-interception ratio was still the same at four touchdowns and four interceptions, those four touchdown passes came in two games compared to the four he threw over the previous six weeks.
In Oklahoma’s first four games of the season, Mateer averaged 8.6 yards per attempt. In the next six games after the thumb injury, it dropped to 5.9 yards per attempt. In Oklahoma’s final two games, that number climbed back up to 7.9 yards per attempt. For the season, he fell right at the FBS average of 7.3 yards per attempt, but if you take out the middle six after his thumb injury, Mateer’s yards per attempt jumps back to 8.4, which would have finished tied for No. 20 in the nation.
Mateer was up and down in his first season in the SEC, but showed the tools and leadership that can take a step this offseason to have a better year in 2026.
Looking at the rest of the Sooners’ quarterback depth chart, it starts with Whitt Newbauer. Newbauer returns after joining Oklahoma last offseason in the transfer portal. He spent the 2024 season with FCS Mercer and is an experienced arm to have behind Mateer. He played in three games this season and was 2 of 4 for six yards and carried the ball three times for 10 yards. His presence allowed Oklahoma to redshirt Michael Hawkins Jr., who ultimately transferred to West Virginia earlier this month.
The future may be a four-star quarterback signing Bowe Bentley, but Oklahoma may want to try to preserve a redshirt season for him as well. That means Newbauer would likely get the first opportunity to play at quarterback if the Sooners needed a short-term solution or a spot snap here and there.
Bentley is a talented quarterback and is highly thought of. The Sooners won out in his recruitment over LSU. He had a productive career at Celina High in Texas, leading them to an undefeated season and state championship in 2024. He was putting together another great season in 2025, but played with an arm injury during the Texas state playoffs. Celina lost by three to eventual state champion Stephenville.
“He’s a winner. He’s never lost a game,” Nagy said of Bentley during the early signing period. “The cool thing with Bowe being so close to home is he’s been here basically every week. He’s been around this team. He’s seen why this team has been successful.”
Jett Niu is back with the Sooners after redshirting in 2025. He was a late addition to the 2025 recruiting class, flipping from Oklahoma State after the hiring of offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle.
The Oklahoma Sooners quarterback situation is stable for 2026. There’s a defined starter and a future star on the roster. They have experienced depth and a developmental arm. It’s up to this group to improve this offseason to help the offense take a step in 2026. If the offense is able to improve, in particular with John Mateer leading the way, then Oklahoma will be back in the playoff discussion with a chance to contend for the national title.
Quarterback Pre-Spring Depth Chart
- John Mateer
- Whitt Newbauer
- Jett Nieu
- Bowe Bentley
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This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: 2026 look at the Oklahoma Sooners quarterback position
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