Before the Texas Longhorns game, the Oklahoma Sooners were the hottest team in the country, and John Mateer was the toughest man in Norman. The Little Elm native was a favorite to win the Heisman with +700 odds according to Caesars. But that Texas game changed the course and trajectory of his career. According to the playoff committee, it was a self-sabotaging move by the Sooners. Unfortunately, Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian might end up paying the ultimate price.

On November 11, college football insider George Stoia III took to X and revealed details about his conversation with CFP Chair Mack Rhoades regarding Oklahoma and John Mateer’s injury:

“I asked CFP Chair Mack Rhoades about the committee’s thoughts on Oklahoma, specifically if they have discussed John Mateer’s hand injury. He said they have and that they noted he was clearly not fully healthy against Texas. Said they have been impressed by the #Sooners.”

That didn’t sit well with fans for several obvious reasons.

A week before the Texas game, John Mateer tore his throwing hand against the Auburn Tigers. Despite the injury happening early in the game, he showed incredible toughness, completing 13 straight passes and even scoring the game-winning touchdown run late in the game to seal the win. That gritty performance had Tim Tebow and others vouching for Mateer’s Heisman campaign.

However, the injury required surgery, and the Sooners faced a tough decision with their rivalry game against Texas looming. Oklahoma became too obsessed with the idea of having Mateer play. There was intense pressure from fans and the media for him to suit up, with some Oklahoma supporters even cheering on his rapid recovery.

Mateer pushed himself to return early against the advice of head coach Brent Venables, who warned him not to “defy the odds.” But with Mateer cleared by doctors just 17 days after surgery, the emotional decision was made to start him.

Obviously, it backfired spectacularly. John Mateer put up one of the worst performances ever by a Heisman favorite in modern college football. He threw three costly interceptions and had a sub-46% completion rate in the Sooners’ 23-6 loss. After the game, Mateer admitted he wasn’t 100% and had pushed himself too far, effectively ending his Heisman hopes.

Now, the playoff committee believes the Texas win over Oklahoma happened primarily because the Sooners played an injured quarterback. Even though Oklahoma was 5-0 and ranked No. 6 in the nation at that time, the committee feels that wasn’t an impressive victory for the Longhorns and might not consider it when things tighten up for playoff selection. Fans aren’t buying that explanation from the CFP.

Fans question the credibility of the College Football Committee for its horrendous decision

When George Stoia III posted that tweet on X, college football fans came together to call out the Playoff Committee.

Fans started by pointing out how the CFP keeps moving the goalpost when it comes to John Mateer’s case. “Love the goalpost move on Mateer’s hand after he got thoroughly exposed.” Before that game, Oklahoma was the team to beat. The majority of ESPN analysts picked the Sooners’ defense and front seven to shut down Arch Manning and the Longhorns. But once Texas beat then-No. 6 Oklahoma, the committee shifted the narrative, pulled excuses, and discredited the Longhorns’ hard-earned victory.

One fan brought up the Texas Tech and Arizona State game to expose the CFP’s logic: “In that case Tech should be viewed as undefeated playing without their starter in a last second loss to Arizona State.” Exactly. By the committee’s logic, Texas Tech would be undefeated if not for Behren Morton’s injury. The freshman played well and only fell short on the final play. Fans are fed up with the endless “what ifs” and biased speculations.

Another fan commented, “Texas fans are not going to like this. 😂” And why would they? If the committee takes the credit and essence out of that victory, the Longhorns have little to no justification for making the playoffs – unless they beat No. 5 Georgia this weekend.

A frustrated user called out the CFP’s absurd ranking of the Cougars: “These idiots have BYU ranked 12th. The committee needs to be blown up.” The Red Raiders absolutely shut down the former No. 8 BYU offense, holding the previously undefeated team to just seven points and 255 total yards. Popular consensus says BYU should’ve dropped below the top 15, but the CFP said otherwise.

The last fan questioned the committee’s supposed plan to push the No. 16 Miami Hurricanes into playoff contention: “And then slid Miami into the playoffs.” There’s more to that story than meets the eye. If you’ve watched their games, you’d know the Hurricanes have fallen apart in the second half of the season. They’re ranked seventh in the ACC right now. That alone tells you everything about how flawed this playoff logic has become.