ESPN’s Rece Davis has been busy stirring the preseason pot for 2025 college football. And his assumptions come loaded with some solid reasoning and a dash of that classic football smarts. Like he is all in on Alabama’s potential, dubbing them a “juggernaut” if their quarterback play hits the mark. So there is fresh hope for guys like Ty Simpson and Austin Mack to step up and turn Alabama into a national title contender again. But this one’s not about the Bamas.

Remember Davis buzzing about Oklahoma’s John Mateer last year? Well, here’s the kicker: that trademark Rece Davis eye for talent hasn’t wavered. On his “College GameDay Podcast,” Davis nailed down his top-five QBs for 2025, with no real surprises. Arch Manning is leading the charge for Texas, LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier, and a few ACC standouts. But he throws in a wildcard for spice, showing he’s not afraid to shake things up. Mateer, this season’s breakout QB, is still the kind of dynamic, dual-threat leader Davis loves talking about.

“I mean, competition’s elevating,” Davis told Pete Thamel. “The offense is new. John Mateer is a fine player. He got away with a lot of stuff last year that he will not get away with. You know, against Michigan and then against the SEC teams. John Mateer had a stellar 2024, but that season had a different vibe compared to the grind he’s about to face now with Oklahoma stepping into a way tougher offensive landscape. Last year at Washington State, Mateer put up some eye-popping numbers. With 3,139 passing yards, 29 touchdowns, and only 7 interceptions, while completing around 65% of his passes. Sounds like MVP stuff, right? However, WSU’s schedule in 2024 was patchy. And rearranged due to conference realignment.

Due to that, the level of competition was inconsistent and arguably lighter in spots than what the SEC and Big Ten powerhouse teams will throw at him this season. Now, back in Norman, the story changes. The Big 12’s transformation and Oklahoma’s jump to playing SEC teams mean Mateer won’t be able to dodge mistakes as easily. That, too, against elite defenses like Michigan or SEC bruisers. But I think he will be fine. Especially since he reunited with offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle, who knows exactly how to dial up plays for a guy who can run and pass with equal flair. And Mateer’s been candidly optimistic during the SEC media days. “It’s awesome. It’s been a pleasure,” Mateer said of his first-ever media day. “It’s a challenge, but it’s an opportunity. Game days in the SEC, there’s nothing else like it.”

Mateer also praised the chemistry he’s building with a deeper and more reliable wide receiver group. And that’s something Oklahoma desperately needed after a rough 2024 passing attack plagued by injuries and inconsistency. But this is no walk in the park. Oklahoma’s transition to the SEC means Mateer faces defenses that are faster, smarter, and more punishing than what he saw last season. And his ability to avoid turnovers and connect downfield will be a key storyline. Because, while his legs and playmaking make him thrilling to watch, the defense-minded Brent Venables doesn’t tolerate mistakes lightly. And there’s also talk about Mateer’s Heisman buzz, joking around about odds but respecting that this is a QB who might just surprise us all. 

Brent Venables’ high-stakes November

Brent Venables is staring down a make-or-break moment this November, with the heat on his seat hotter than ever. After steering Oklahoma through two losing seasons in three years. It’s a rarity for a program that hasn’t known that kind of struggle since the late ’90s. Oklahoma’s brutal 2024 campaign (6-7) was a major wake-up call, and now Venables is trying to rewrite the narrative in his fourth year as head coach. The Sooners revamped everything in the offseason. With a shiny new OC, Arbuckle, and a snagging transfer QB, John Matter.

But the real kicker? Venables has been given a clear, no-nonsense ultimatum. “I think you legitimately need to go into November as a college football playoff contender,” Tyler McComas of KREF said on That SEC Podcast. It’s a clear, win big in November, or risk losing the gig. This means that the final stretch of the season. That includes facing powerhouse SEC teams like LSU, Missouri, Alabama, and tough non-conference opponents like Michigan and Texas, which is a gauntlet that could define his entire tenure.

According to insiders and SEC coaches, Venables is in the hottest seat in the league, with expectations higher than ever, yet the defense still being an open question mark under a coach with a defensive pedigree only adds to the drama. The offense looks promising with Mateer-Arbuckle chemistry and a healthier receiver corps, but the defense must step up. Otherwise, the whole thing could unravel.