Oklahoma's John Mateer named a dark horse Heisman candidate

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The Oklahoma Sooners are one of the most prestigious programs in the history of college football. The Sooners have won seven national championships and also have seven Heisman Trophy winners.

The Sooners have the gold standard for the Heisman since 2000. Oklahoma has won four since the turn of the century. They've also had several runner-up finishes during that time frame. Oklahoma thought it might have another Heisman winner the way quarterback John Mateer started the season last year.

Mateer threw for 1,215 yards, six touchdowns and three interceptions, while rushing for 190 yards and five scores during the first four games. However, he was injured in the fourth game and was never the same after that. Despite the inconsistent finish, NFL draft guru Todd McShay feels he could be a Heisman dark horse in 2026.

"What about John Mateer?" McShay said on the 'Brandon Walker College Football Show.' "I mean, I've got him at 13 in the rankings."

Oklahoma's history makes the possibility even more intriguing. The Sooners have consistently produced quarterbacks capable of competing for the sport's biggest individual award, and Mateer has already shown flashes of having that kind of ceiling.

McShay ranked him No. 13 among quarterbacks in his NFL draft rankings, which means the Sooners quarterback isn't being viewed as one of the overwhelming favorites just yet, but that's exactly what makes him a potential dark horse.

If Mateer stays healthy, improves on last year's finish and leads Oklahoma back into the College Football Playoff conversation, his name could quickly move much higher on the Heisman board. For a program with such a strong history in the award, another Oklahoma quarterback making a late push would hardly be a surprise.

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This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Oklahoma's John Mateer named a dark horse Heisman candidate

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