Sooners Considered Benching John Mateer After Costly Turnovers Against Georgia

Halftime Discussions

Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables admitted his staff discussed benching starting quarterback John Mateer at halftime during the Sooners' 41-13 loss to the Georgia Bulldogs. The fifth-year quarterback endured a disastrous second quarter, turning the ball over on three consecutive drives. This allowed Georgia to build a commanding 28-0 lead by halftime.

Despite the struggles, the coaching staff decided to stick with their starter. Offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle explained that they discussed all options on the headset but ultimately felt Mateer was still their best choice to win the game. Venables noted after the game that they will look at everything to find ways to get better.

Costly Mistakes on the Field

Mateer finished the game completing 25 of 34 passes for 231 yards and two touchdowns, but his three turnovers proved too costly to overcome. His trouble began with a fumble that Georgia linebacker Chris Cole returned 85 yards for a touchdown. On the next drive, KJ Bolden intercepted Mateer. Shortly after, Raylen Wilson sacked Mateer and forced another fumble, which Cole recovered to set Georgia up in scoring position.

These errors are part of a worrying trend for the Oklahoma quarterback, who has committed six turnovers in his last three games. In Week 2, a late interception set up Michigan for a game-winning touchdown. In Week 3, Mateer threw two early interceptions in a shaky 14-6 victory over New Mexico, a performance that helped drop the preseason No. 10 Sooners out of the AP Top 25.

Confidence and Injury Questions

Both Venables and Arbuckle pointed out that Mateer's confidence has taken a hit after his tough start to the season. Venables described the quarterback's confidence as bruised, though he added that no one is more disappointed with the performance than Mateer himself.

Mateer, however, did not admit to any self-doubt when speaking after the game. He stated that he is still playing fast and is not questioning his decisions during plays. He also dismissed any concerns that a previous throwing hand surgery from last season was impacting his current play. Last year, Mateer led the Sooners to a 10-2 regular season and a playoff spot.

The Sooners now have a week off to reset before they travel to Dallas on Oct. 10 to face top-ranked Texas. Mateer insisted that the team will not quit, saying it is not who they are or what their head coach does.