After a disappointing start to their SEC journey, Brent Venables and the Oklahoma football program have high hopes for the 2025 season. With Venables reclaiming the defensive play-calling duties following Zac Alley’s departure, the Sooners are eager to build momentum. The addition of new offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle from Washington State, along with their highly regarded transfer quarterback John Mateer, significantly strengthens an offense that ranked 98th in scoring nationally in 2024. Mateer, who excelled at Washington State with over 3,000 passing yards and a total of 44 touchdowns last season, is expected to be a game-changer for Oklahoma’s offense.

One of the major storylines has been in the quarterback position, where Cole Gonzales, a two-time Walter Payton Award finalist and transfer from Western Carolina, spent a brief tenure at Oklahoma. After spring practices, Gonzales returned to the transfer portal, much to everyone’s disappointment. Jay Smith and John Williams discuss the Sooners’ transfer portal on the Locked on Sooners podcast.

“Losing Co Gonzalez so late in the portal cycle, it’s gonna be kind of a blow,” Smith said. Gonzalez transferred this winter to Oklahoma from Western Carolina, where he was a big name two-time Walter Payton Award finalist and all. But after spring drills, it was apparent he wasn’t going to overtake John Mateer for the starting QB position, so Gonzales decided to return to the transfer portal. Now, he’s off to Pittsburgh to rejoin some familiar coaches and hopefully start anew.

Per Williams, “I do expect Oklahoma to shop for a quarterback.” The Sooners are still searching for another signal caller in the portal. They tease how OU fans have essentially become portal quarterback tracking experts at this point, as it seems like every offseason, they receive a new set of questions and question marks. He also states, “I bet you there are a few quarterbacks in the portal that we will be tied to.” 

John Mateer is the Sooners’ quarterback, and he is the starter after transferring from Washington State and wowing everyone with spring ball. The second string is Michael Hawkins Jr., and the third string is true freshman Jett Niu, but the depth is a little light after Cole Gonzales hopped to Pitt.

John Mateer throws, Ott runs

When you speak of excitement in Norman going into the 2025 season, it’s difficult not to begin with the new backfield combination of John Mateer and Jaydn Ott. These two have brought fresh energy to Brent Venables’ Oklahoma program, and you can sense the hype building with each practice update and highlight reel. Mateer, the Washington State transfer quarterback, comes with a dual-threat skill set that OU fans have been clamoring for. He threw for more than 3,100 yards and 29 touchdowns last season, but don’t sleep on his legs; he ran for almost 800 yards, too.

Now, pair that with Jaydn Ott, the former Cal star who, when healthy, is one of the most electric running backs in college football. Ott racked up over 1,300 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns in 2023, and even with an ankle injury slowing him down last year, he’s still got NFL talent written all over him. What makes their chemistry so exciting is how their games complement each other. Mateer’s capability to make defenses honest with RPOs and scrambles creates openings for Ott, and Ott’s home-run speed and receiving ability compel defenses to choose their poison: stack the box, and Mateer will beat you over the top; drop back, and Ott will gash you underneath. Pro Football Focus is already touting them as one of the nation’s top QB-RB combinations, with Mateer sporting an 84.1 PFF mark and Ott an even more absurd 90.1. That’s not hype; that’s production.

Brent Venables’ Oklahoma football team is certainly in an interesting position at present. With Cole Gonzales jumping out and the QB room still finding its footing, it’s all eyes on John Mateer to drive the train. Fortunately, he’s got Jaydn Ott by his side, and in all seriousness, that pair appears to be the pulse of this offense. Venables calling the defense plays himself and adding new coaching talent shows that he’s serious about changing the tide. The transfer portal, new coaching recruits, and Mateer-Ott chemistry promise an exciting season ahead.