The 2026 college football season hasn't gone well for Oklahoma Sooners quarterback John Mateer. The Sooners are 3-2, and Mateer leads one of the country's worst offenses.
Oklahoma ranks No. 128 in total offense, No. 92 in passing offense, No. 133 in rushing offense and No. 101 in scoring offense. Mateer has thrown for 1,038 yards, eight touchdowns and four interceptions, while adding two fumbles. He's also rushed for just 70 yards on 1.3 yards per carry and no scores.
Confidence has been an issue for the Oklahoma gun-slinger. However, he's coming off a performance against the then-No. 1 Texas Longhorns, in which he didn't turn the ball over and hit the two biggest passes of his Oklahoma career to set up the game-winning field goal. Because of that,
Mateer said his confidence is in a good place.
"It feels good," Mateer said via Sooners Illustrated. "There's a piece to it, knowing that I made those throws in the big moments. It feels good. Again, like I said last week, it's not like a huge increase, but it does feel good."
Mateer's performance against Texas gives him something to carry into the next stretch of the season: proof he can deliver under the highest pressure. The key now is translating that late-game execution into more consistent production across four quarters. Protecting the football, making sound decisions, and finding a rhythm with his receivers will be critical as Oklahoma looks to get its struggling offense back on track.
Saturday's win won't erase the issues that have held the Sooners back, but it offers a reason for optimism heading into the matchup with the No. 15 Kentucky Wildcats. If Mateer can build on the confidence he gained in Dallas and the offense can make progress behind him, Oklahoma has an opportunity to turn a signature rivalry win into sustained momentum. The next step is showing that the breakthrough can become the standard.
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This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Oklahoma's John Mateer reveals confidence level after Texas win
