Brent Venables knew something had to give. After a rocky SEC debut—highlighted by an upset over Bama but marred by lopsided losses and a bowl stumble to Navy—the Sooners needed a shake-up. Venables responded with authority. He’s taking over defensive play-calling himself. On offense, he handed the reins to rising star Ben Arbuckle, the mind behind explosive units at WKU and Washington State. Arbuckle brought his QB, John Mateer, with him to Norman. Oklahoma also stacked up with 5 transfer wideouts to reload a battered room. If the offensive line holds up, this team could flip the script. Now, Venables is betting big—and coaching even bigger.

Year four is make-or-break for Brent Venables in Norman. After a rough 6-7 ride in Oklahoma’s first SEC season, his overall record stands at 22-17—and that’s not enough for a blueblood like OU. So, the pressure’s mounting. According to Athlon Sports, one anonymous SEC coach didn’t sugarcoat it: this season could define Venables’ future. With the Sooners’ fan base expecting wins and playoff pushes, the margin for error is razor thin. Simply put, Venables isn’t just coaching for a bounce-back—he’s coaching for his job.

Here comes the heat from the SEC coach who’s calling it straight on John Mateer’s situation — “It’s a hot-seat situation for sure,” he said. Adding, “They’re banking on an instant impact from [Ben] Arbuckle and [John] Mateer the way Vanderbilt brought in the New Mexico State coach/QB combo. That could happen. Their receivers were nonexistent last year, but a lot of that was injury. They should bounce back and give Mateer some options.”

Brent Venables is stepping up, taking full command of the Sooners’ defense and calling plays for the first time as HC. But the real key to Oklahoma’s bounce-back lies on offense. Last season, they were dead last in the SEC for passing YPG—a glaring weakness. Injuries tore through their receiving corps, leaving the offense scrambling without reliable targets. But this year, with health and new weapons, the Sooners are primed for a serious turnaround.

Yup, Oklahoma’s WR room is getting a serious upgrade in 2025. Deion Burks is back after being limited to just 5 games last season. Before that, he racked up 629 yards and 7 TDs at Purdue, earning the No. 8 spot in the 2024 transfer portal per On3. Then, Jayden Gibson also returns after missing all of last year with a fall camp injury. And the reload doesn’t stop there. The Sooners added 3 more weapons through the portal—Keontez Lewis, Javonnie Gibson, and Isaiah Sategna. Now, with this firepower, OU’s offense is ready to light it up.

Oklahoma limped to a 2-6 finish in the SEC last season, and the heat is rising in Norman. What’s on the line? His job, for Venables and a $44.8 million buyout for Oklahoma. But help might be on the way. Enter John Mateer—Wazzu’s dual-threat dynamo. He passed for over 3,000 yards, ran for 826 more, and stacked up 44 total TDs. Now, he’s in Sooner gear and could be the jolt Brent Venables desperately needs. With Mateer under center, Oklahoma’s offense might finally find its groove. Expectations? Surprisingly sky-high for the 2025 season.

Brent Venables’ QB is on the rise

FOX’s Joel Klatt isn’t sleeping on the Sooners. On his weekly podcast, the veteran analyst made it clear—Oklahoma’s offense is about to turn a major corner in 2025. Klatt dropped jaws across the CFB world when he ranked OU QB John Mateer as the No. 3 QB in the nation for this upcoming season. Only Clemson’s Cade Klubnik and Texas’ Arch Manning sit ahead. That’s elite company—and a bold nod to the rising star in Norman.

John Mateer might not be a household name—yet. But don’t let the lack of buzz fool you. Klatt dove into the tape and saw something special. The Washington State transfer turned heads last season with eye-popping numbers. Now at Oklahoma, Klatt believes Mateer is primed to break out again. Quietly climbing the ranks, he could be the surprise star who puts the Sooners’ offense back on the map. Following that, Klatt said, “He’s got a big arm. He can run it. He’s a dual-threat guy. He was the only quarterback last year to average over 250 yards through the air, throwing the football and 50 yards on the ground in every game.”

The media’s watching. Fans are buzzing. But Brent Venables isn’t worried. He believes his new QB is cut from the right cloth. “I think he’s got great competitive maturity to him and competitive toughness,” said Venables back in March. Mateer has the mindset, the grit, and now the stage. It’s his moment to own.

But Brent Venables couldn’t stop singing praises about his new QB. From day one, John Mateer made an impression in Norman. “He’s blended in and transitioned incredibly well. He’s about that work. Players recognize his talent immediately, but he’s incredibly competitive. He’s got a great maturity about him, and he’s a process-driven young guy,” added Venables. So, Mateer isn’t just showing up — he’s standing out.