During the 2026 college football offseason, the progress being made by Oklahoma Sooners quarterback John Mateer has been the major headline. But the progress many talk about is what he's doing to be a better quarterback on the field. But the biggest improvement might be just simply being Oklahoma's quarterback for a second season. The Sooners have a strong history of producing some of the best quarterbacks the sport has seen. So, taking over that responsibility is not an easy task. Someone can hear about the responsibility and the expectations, but until you are in it, you just can't fully grasp it. Now that Mateer has done it, he knows what to expect in Year 2. That should immediately make him more comfortable and more relaxed, something On3's J.D. PicKell realized at SEC media days. "He just seems so much more like he understands what being a quarterback at Oklahoma comes with," PicKell said on 'The Hard Count.' "Like, (he) just seems more loose, seems more comfortable in his own skin." Mateer's physical development and improvements as a passer will obviously be important in 2026. But his mental growth could be just as significant. A quarterback who is comfortable in his environment can play faster, process information more efficiently and make decisions with greater confidence. Those are all areas that could help Mateer take another step forward in his second season under offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle. Oklahoma needs that growth. The Sooners' offense struggled to consistently move the ball last season, particularly on the ground, and Mateer often had to carry too much of the responsibility. If a more experienced and confident Mateer can elevate his play, while Oklahoma's revamped running game and receiving corps provide more support, the offense could look significantly different in 2026. Mateer already knows what it's like to be Oklahoma's quarterback. Now, he gets the opportunity to show what he can do with that experience.
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