Oklahoma coach Brent Venables is evaluating all options at quarterback after John Mateer's slow start. Mateer remains the starter, but backups Bowe Bentley and Whitt Newbauer have gotten additional snaps during the bye week. Venables admitted the staff considered benching Mateer during a 41-13 loss to No. 2 Georgia, but they ultimately stuck with him.
The Sooners are averaging 11.5 points per game against Power Four competition with Mateer at the helm. "I have no idea," Venables said. "We're not there right now … John's our starting quarterback." The former Washington State transfer was heralded as the No. 1 quarterback transfer two years ago, and was a game-changing commitment when he signed with Oklahoma.
But since a fast start before hand surgery in 2025, Mateer -- and Oklahoma's offense -- have faltered. The senior is completing 66% of his passes for 883 yards but is averaging only 1.9 yards per carry with four interceptions in his last three games. The Sooners rank last in the SEC in total offense and 15th in scoring offense amidst a miserable 2-2 start.
Oklahoma faces off against No. 1 Texas on Saturday in the annual Red River Rivalry at the State Fair of Texas. The Sooners have lost three of the last four games, averaging an astonishing 3.0 points per game in the losses. Three of the four worst Red River scoring outputs at Oklahoma of the past 50 years belong to Venables.
Because of the investment in Mateer, proven options in the QB room are limited. Former Mercer transfer Whitt Newbauer and freshman Bowe Bentley are both taking meaningful snaps in practice, but neither has many reps. Newbauer, listed at 6-feet-6 and 240 pounds, started seven games as a freshman at Mercer in 2024.
He completed 56% of his passes for 1,398 yards, 12 touchdowns and four interceptions while leading the program to the FCS quarterfinals. However, Newbauer has thrown only five combined passes for 12 yards in two years as a backup at Oklahoma. Bentley is the higher-upside option, a four-star freshman who led Celina (Texas) to a state championship in high school.
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