Replacing OU football QB John Mateer was discussed during blowout loss toGeorgia

ATHENS, GA — John Mateer walked off the field postgame, staring off into the distance as he entered the tunnel and headed toward the visitors’ locker room inside Sanford Stadium.

Oklahoma‘s quarterback appeared dejected, disappointed and like he was feeling all of the emotions after turning the ball over three times in the Sooners’ 41-13 loss to No. 2 Georgia.

While Mateer was battling on the field, trying to bounce back from each mistake, fans were calling for his benching off it.

“It was something that we discussed,” OU football coach Brent Venables said following the loss. “But this conversation, you’ll look at everything (to figure out) how to get better.”

Outside of the turnovers, Mateer led the offense up and down the field for much of the game. He completed 25 of his 34 passes for 231 yards and two touchdowns, but the mistakes — two fumbles and an interception — were ruinous.

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Venables said he senses “confidence issues” with some players. Given his performance, it was natural to wonder if Mateer is one of them.

“When you have those mistakes in a game, I would say, without asking John the question, ‘Hey, how’s your confidence doing?’ It’s like, man, it’s bruised,” Venables said. “It certainly isn’t sky high. And nobody’s more disappointed than John, I can promise you. 

“But it affects your rhythm, it affects your confidence, affects your cohesion and certainly it’s not playing complementary football.”

Everything snowballed for the Sooners following Mateer’s three first-half turnovers.His most notable one was the first, which occurred on third-and-goal after the Sooners had marched all the way down the field. Mateer pump-faked a pass before it slipped backward out of his hands and was returned 85 yards for a Bulldogs touchdown.

“I went to throw the inside route and then the corner jumped it, which I kind of expected, so then I went back to throw the outside route which was just wide open and it just came out like that,” Mateer said. “That one’s weird. That hasn’t happened. Happened a couple times in the cold, in a morning practice at Washington State, but it’s never happened in-game and just weird it happened.”Although replacing Mateer was discussed, he was OU’s only source of offense yet again. The Sooners failed to run the ball with any consistency, carrying it 35 times for 65 yards.Offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle also knows Mateer better than perhaps anyone and felt like he gave the Sooners the best chance to win. The 31-year-old play-caller continues to point to the need to improve execution and fundamentals.

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“I have to continue being better for him, but at the same time, he understands his play,” Arbuckle said. “He understands what it’s supposed to look like and what it’s not supposed to look like. As long as we’re honest and truthful and attack that, his confidence will continue to go up.”

Perhaps the most concerning piece of Mateer’s play is that he’s a fifth-year quarterback, not a rookie. Furthermore, this is his fourth season in Arbuckle’s system. 

“He knows exactly what I’m going to say before I say it,” Arbuckle said. “That doesn’t make it any better. I have to continue to be a better coach. I have to continue making him protect the football, both when he’s throwing it and whenever it’s in his hands. But you’re exactly right: He knows exactly what I’m going to say. We have to continue pushing forward, get better at it.”

Arbuckle was also pressed on whether he’s confident the Sooners have viable options beyond Mateer.

“I love and trust everybody in that room,” Arbuckle said.

With No. 1 Texas on the horizon, Mateer’s confidence will need to be built back up. After all, dating back to his Washington State days, he’s at his best when he plays free and like himself.

But OU might have to live with his inconsistencies.Standing in front of dozens of cameras, Mateer faced every question head-on. Despite his struggles, he’s remained a consummate professional. He was asked where his confidence is at.

“Uhm, I mean, I think I’m still playing fast,” Mateer said. “I think I’m not questioning what I do during the play. I think the process is where it needs to be. I think it’s just not working out. So I wouldn’t say so.”

Colton Sulley covers the Oklahoma Sooners for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Colton? He can be reached at csulley@oklahoman.com or on X/Twitter at @colton_sulley. Support Colton’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing adigital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Replacing OU football QB John Mateer was discussed during blowout loss toGeorgia