Oklahoma football hit the road to take on Georgia in a Week 4 SEC showdown that drew a wild take on quarterback John Mateer from a rival coach. Mateer has been vocal about his own disappointments recently and turned in another disappointing performance against the Bulldogs in a losing effort.

The Sooners came out flat in Athens, Georgia, falling behind 7-0 in the first quarter and ceding 21 points to coach Kirby Smart's team in quarter number two. Mateer poured gasoline on the situation in the second quarter with the Sooners driving down 14-0. He rolled out to his left, looked to pass, and fumbled the football, which was returned the length of the field for a score to put the Bulldogs up 21-0.

Lmaoooo OU just messed up BAD. About to score to make it 14-7 and they fumble on like the 6yrd line. Scoop & score & UGA runs it back for a TD.

21-0. Lmao. Wow. 😂😂😂#Oklahoma #Georgia pic.twitter.com/tKzyeWt2DY

— Andy from Austin (@AndyFromAustin) September 26, 2026

Fans began strongly questioning the Sooners' former Heisman Trophy candidate on social media, wondering if he should be replaced in favor of backup quarterback Whitt Newbauer or fellow reserve Bowe Bentley. Sooners offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle is confident in both backup QBs, adding to the suspense.

Mateer has accomplished record-breaking feats similar to Sooners legend Baker Mayfield, and he led Oklahoma to the College Football Playoff last year. Is it time for Oklahoma to panic on Mateer, or does he deserve another chance to start? The Sooners will have a week to figure it out before Texas comes calling on October 10.

Venables should open QB competition

Mateer transferred to Oklahoma after a strong 2024 season with the Washington State Cougars and hit the ground running with 392 passing yards against Illinois State on August 30, 2025. His next game would define the next year as he lit up Sherrone Moore and Bryce Underwood's Michigan Wolverines for over 300 total yards in one of the biggest wins of the Brent Venables era in Norman, Oklahoma.

Mateer conjured up images of Mayfield with spectacular play after spectacular play in that game, vaulting himself into Heisman Trophy considering and firing up a hype train boarded by everyone from national analyst Josh Pate to ESPN's College GameDay crew.

A Week 2 loss to a similar Wolverines team has since dulled the shine on Mateer, showing the college football world his ugly side. Mateer is undersized for the quarterback position and doesn't do a good enough job taking care of the football, as evidenced by his costly fumble, as well as an interception against the Bulldogs in Week 4.

Mateer hasn't looked as comfortable as he expressed before the season. His dark side is equally frightening to Sooners fans as his good side is to other teams. That alone should give Venables pause as he works to regain the fans' trust heading into Week 6 against rival Texas. Venables should strongly consider putting Mateer on notice, and playing to the sentiment of his team's fans, by opening up the quarterback competition during OU's bye week.

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Whoever performs the best in practice should be named the team's starter leading up to Week 6 against Arch Manning and the Longhorns, which will force Mateer to sharpen his focus, and the willpower of Newbauer and Bentley, leading into the Red River Rivalry matchup.

OU running game is biggest issue

Mateer is justifiably taking heat for the Sooners' struggles, but the running game is OU's real weakness. Mateer has done his best to be a one-man offensive band when it is needed, but teams are starting to contain his scrambles and are forcing him to throw into narrow coverage windows.

Oklahoma was knocked out of the 2025-26 College Football Playoff by Alabama after rushing for just 55 yards. That won't cut it against top SEC teams like the Bulldogs and Longhorns, who are built to win in multiple ways. If Venables and Arbuckle don't improve the running game significantly heading into Week 6, it won't matter who the Sooners' quarterback is going forward, in terms of their College Football Playoff hopes.

Newbauer, Bentley deserve long looks

Newbauer and Bentley deserve long looks in practice, and perhaps in a few series of game action, to see if they can bring a new element to a struggling Sooners' offense.

Mateer and the offensive line were dominated in a 17-10 loss to Michigan and MIA against the Bulldogs in a blowout Week 4 SEC loss. Newbauer was a three-star prospect out of high school but he brings a new dimension to the offense at 6-foot-6, 225 pounds. Bentley is a 6-foot-1 dual threat quarterback who was compared to Mateer out of high school and has the skills to challenge the Sooners' starter in practice.

Venables built up a lot of goodwill for himself last season with his big home win over Michigan, but his loss to the Wolverines this season and to the Bulldogs in Athens are starting to test the patience of his fanbase. Mateer is one of the SEC's most talented quarterbacks, but a new challenge, and perhaps a little time to watch and reassess things, could do him good as the college football season continues to progress.