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Oklahoma sticking with QB John Mateer despite turnovers

By Thomson Reuters Oct 21, 2026 | 10:47 AM

By Field Level Media

Oct 21 (Field Level Media) – Oklahoma still sees John Mateer as its best option at ​quarterback.

The Sooners are not making ‌a change at the position despite last week’s costly three-interception performance.

Oklahoma (3-3, 1-2) has only one win in SEC play, a 27-24 upset against ‌then- ​No. 1 Texas on ⁠Oct. 10.

Offensive coordinator ⁠Ben Arbuckle, who also coached Mateer at Washington State, said the coaching staff will do more to keep the ​ball out of harm’s way starting on Saturday at Mississippi State (4-2, 2-2).

“Everything ⁠that he’s done, the ⁠player that he is, the ​preparation that he has, we believe that ​John Mateer gives us the best chance ‌to win,” Arbuckle said.

The Sooners are coming off a 21-13 home loss last Saturday to then-No. 15 Kentucky in ⁠a game in which Mateer threw his fifth, sixth and seventh interceptions of the season.

Oklahoma is ⁠minus-8 ‌in turnover margin, tied for ⁠134th among 138 FBS programs.

“We ​have ‌to eliminate backbreaking errors, catastrophic ​errors,” Arbuckle ⁠said. “For all the good that he (Mateer) does, we have to eliminate those. He’s not alone in that. I take full responsibility for those plays, whenever they happen.”

(–Field ​Level Media)