Where did John Mateer rank in USA TODAY Sports SEC QB rankings?
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The Oklahoma Sooners will conclude spring football this week with a couple more practices before concluding spring ball for 2026. It was a strong performance from the Sooners' offense, particularly quarterback John Mateer and the rushing attack.
For Oklahoma to return to the College Football Playoff in 2026, OU will need both Mateer and the running game to improve significantly and be more consistent than they were a year ago. The Sooners have one of the better quarterbacks in the SEC, but Mateer ranked No. 7 in the SEC by Matt Hayes of USA TODAY Sports coming out of spring ball.
What looked like a breakout season in 2025 was sidetracked in late September by a thumb injury, and Mateer never really got it back. Five starters return on the offensive line. Better protection, better results. – Hayes, USA TODAY Sports
Mateer got healthier, and his grip got stronger as the season went on, and he finished with a pair of 300-yard passing performances to close the season. Healthy still, Mateer completed 12 of 19 passes for 192 yards and a touchdown. Along with the return to health of Mateer, the Oklahoma Sooners made a significant push in the offseason to improve the offensive talent.
They added wide receivers Trell Harris and Parker Livingstone, and while neither played in the spring game on Saturday, both are expected to contribute significantly in 2026. Another wide receiver transfer addition, Mackenzie Alleyne, has been a star of spring ball for the Sooners. He generated a lot of buzz in practice and built on that during the spring game with three receptions for 28 yards and a touchdown.
Oklahoma also brought in tight ends Hayden Hansen, Rocky Beers, and Jack VanDorsalaer to bolster the tight end room to help the Sooners improve the running game. Hansen and Beers combined for seven receptions for 99 yards in the spring game.
The transfer additions add to an offense that features five players returning with at least six starts last season and the addition of offensive tackle E'Marion Harris to provide veteran experience to a young and developing group up front.
And if the spring game is any evidence, the offensive line and the running game has improved as well.
Mateer is a good quarterback, capable of putting up big numbers for the Oklahoma Sooners offense. But with improved talent around him, he doesn't have to be everything for OU in 2026.
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This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: John Mateer No. 7 in USA TODAY Sports SEC quarterback rankings
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