The starting quarterback for the Oklahoma Sooners, John Mateer, a prominent contender for the Heisman Trophy, is scheduled to undergo a surgical procedure on his throwing arm. Head coach Brent Venables communicated on Tuesday that the expectation is for Mateer to be back “during the current season.”
This announcement surfaced unexpectedly, just three days following Oklahoma’s victory over No. 22 Auburn with a score of 24-17. This triumph elevated the Sooners’ record to 4-0. Mateer had become a leading favorite in the Heisman Trophy odds following the win, and Oklahoma’s ranking in the AP poll ascended from No. 11 to No. 7.
John Mateer’s injury has significant implications for the Heisman Trophy and SEC races.
(Mitchell Leff via Getty Images)
“After discussions with healthcare professionals, it became evident that undergoing surgery represents the optimal path forward for John, both in the near and distant future,” expressed Venables, as stated in Oklahoma’s official statement. “He is understandably disappointed to be sidelined for a portion of the games but is committed to resolving the issue and progressing forward.”
“As is typical of his approach to everything, we are confident that he will dedicate himself to his rehabilitation and strive to return to the field as soon as he can.”
The university has not yet disclosed the precise specifics of his injury. According to Pete Thamel of ESPN, Mateer suffered a fracture in his right hand and the anticipated recuperation period is approximately one month.
Thursday, Mateer indicated that his surgical procedure was successful.
Big implications for Heisman, SEC races
This setback is expected to keep Mateer out of Oklahoma’s critical Red River Showdown against Texas on October 11, and possibly further games.
Oklahoma is currently observing a bye week and will not compete this Saturday. The university has announced that sophomore quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. will be in the starting position for Oklahoma’s upcoming match against Kent State on October 4.
Following that is the Texas game, which is poised to carry considerable weight in the SEC title chase and College Football Playoff standings. Subsequently, Oklahoma will face South Carolina before concluding the season with a sequence of five consecutive games against SEC opponents holding ranked positions: Mississippi, Tennessee, Alabama, Missouri, and LSU.
If the timeline holds, Mateer could potentially return for the Mississippi game on October 25, at the earliest.
The university has reported that Mateer sustained the injury during the opening quarter of Oklahoma’s game against Auburn. He continued to play, completing 24 out of 36 pass attempts for 271 yards and one touchdown. He also accumulated 29 rushing yards and one touchdown.
Hawkins does possess some prior experience. He initially joined Oklahoma as a highly-regarded four-star recruit and has played in seven games, including three starts during his freshman year in 2024, at a time when then-starter Jackson Arnold was taken out of the lineup.
He guided Oklahoma to a victory against Auburn in his initial start, but was later relegated back to the bench after a 34-3 defeat to Texas and after committing three turnovers during the first quarter of a start against South Carolina. Throughout his seven appearances, Hawkins completed 63.3% of his passes for 783 yards, resulting in three touchdowns and two interceptions. He has also rushed for 204 yards (averaging 3 yards per attempt) and secured one touchdown on the ground.
