Danny Kanell labels John Mateer ‘biggest disappointment’ in CFB
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Danny Kanell has lived the life of a college quarterback, having played the position at Florida State from 1992-95.
Yes, that was many years ago, but it’s still the same position and the same game, so he knows what Oklahoma signal-caller John Mateer is going through right now as he struggles with the weight of expectations that surrounded him going into the 2026 season.
Mateer was thought to be one of the best quarterbacks in college football entering this year, but things have not gone according to plan for Oklahoma or Mateer. The Sooners are just 2-2 going into Saturday afternoon’s Red River Rivalry showdown against No. 1 Texas (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC) in Dallas, which is where Mateer can turn everything around with one big performance.
To say it’s been a struggle for Mateer would be an understatement. The senior signal-caller who was born in Texas has tossed 4 interceptions against just 8 touchdowns. He’s thrown for 883 yards in 2026, but his own running game that was a factor the previous 2 seasons hasn’t been there, with Mateer rushing for just 76 yards on 41 carries with 0 rushing touchdowns.
Mateer’s QBR sits at a dismal 56.7, which ranks 69th in college football. Plainly put, it was a bad September for Mateer before last week’s bye, and Kanell didn’t mince words, labelling Mateer college football’s biggest disappointment so far in 2026.
Here was exactly what the CBS Sports analyst said about the OU quarterback:
“I hate to do that, but Mateer probably has been the biggest disappointment in college football, based on the expectations coming in,” Kanell said. “Mateer just has been really disappointing. It’s just been the backbreaking turnovers which have absolutely crushed Oklahoma’s hopes. They have a top-five defense in the country and they’re losing games. … They’ve just been devastating.”
Kanell broke down those backbreaking turnovers in OU’s losses to Michigan and Georgia:
Mateer will have a huge chance this Saturday to change the narrative surrounding his 2026 season. Here is what the Kalshi market is currently saying about Mateer’s chances to lead Oklahoma to a monster upset of Texas at the Cotton Bowl:
Cory Nightingale, a former sportswriter and sports editor at the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, is a South Florida-based freelance writer who covers Alabama for SaturdayDownSouth.com.
