Oklahoma reportedly makes decision on starting QB vs. Florida
By Jacob Moss
Published:
The Oklahoma Sooners are preparing to take on the No. 24 Florida Gators this Saturday in The Swamp, and the team’s offense has been a major topic of discussion around Norman heading into the late-season showdown.
Sooners head coach Brent Venables made headlines earlier this week when he officially dismissed offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle following last Saturday’s disastrous performance against the South Carolina Gamecocks.
Many around the program also wondered whether Arbuckle’s departure would lead to a change under center, but that doesn’t appear to be the case.
According to a report from On3 insiders Pete Nakos and George Stoia, Oklahoma is expected to stick with senior quarterback John Mateer once again this Saturday against the Gators, despite his recent struggles.
Mateer elected to return to Oklahoma last winter after a thumb injury derailed much of his junior campaign, but things haven’t gone the way he or the rest of the program envisioned so far in 2026.
Like our coverage? Make SDS a preferred source in your searches!
The former Washington State standout has struggled with protecting the football and accuracy, currently sitting at 9 total turnovers through 8 games while also completing just 65.6% of his passes.
For now, it appears Venables still believes Mateer gives the Sooners their best chance to win, but another disappointing performance this weekend against a struggling Florida defense could mark the end of his tenure as the starting quarterback at Oklahoma.
Subscribe to the Saturday Football Newsletter — Get the latest news and updates on your team, your conference, and the college football nation straight to your inbox.
Having trouble seeing the signup form? Some privacy or ad-blocking tools can prevent it from loading. You can subscribe directly here.
