College football analyst believes Oklahoma’s national title hopes comes down to one player
John Mateer showed elite dual-threat talent at Washington State. Oklahoma needs him to rediscover that form if the Sooners want to contend for a title.
As the college football season approaches, Oklahoma Sooners are making a run at the national title. Head coach Brent Venables has secured a major extension, and the team has retained important defensive players. However, the key to Oklahoma's success lies in one player: quarterback John Mateer. Analyst David Pollack believes that Mateer could be the difference-maker for Oklahoma in 2026.
During his standout 2024 season at Washington State, Mateer threw for 3,139 yards and 29 touchdowns, while adding 826 rushing yards and 15 rushing touchdowns. His dual-threat ability made him a nationally recognized prospect. However, Mateer's performance dropped significantly after transferring to Oklahoma, as he threw for 2,885 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2025, while recovering from a hand surgery.
Despite the setback, Mateer's talent has not diminished. Oklahoma's team composition around him could allow them to compete in the SEC and potentially make a deep postseason run. But, as Pollack highlights, Mateer's health, confidence, and explosiveness at Washington State could ultimately determine Oklahoma's climb from playoff contender to a legitimate national championship contender.
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