The Oklahoma Sooners may have a quarterback conundrum. John Mateer has started every game so far this season.
However, he's struggled mightily with turnovers. Mateer is completing 65.1% of his passes for 1,308 yards, nine touchdowns and seven interceptions with two fumbles. His play has led many fans to wonder whether it's time to give one of the backups a look. One is freshman Bowe Bentley, a top-10 quarterback in the 2026 class.
Bentley has appeared in just one game and thrown one pass. Still, offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle said he's impressed with what he's seen from Bentley.
"He's always getting better, and he's always learning," Arbuckle said. "With the more experience that happens, even if he isn't the guy in the game right now, he's very
aware and very hyper-focused on what is going on... I've been proud of Bowe and the continued development that I see from him."
Bentley's development gives Oklahoma another option to consider as it looks for ways to stabilize its offense. His limited game experience means the freshman still has plenty to prove, but Arbuckle's comments suggest the coaching staff values his progress and attention to detail. Whether Bentley earns a larger role will depend on how he continues to develop in practice and how the staff evaluates the quarterback position moving forward.
For now, the Sooners are sticking with Mateer, as Arbuckle has said he believes Mateer gives them the best chance to win. But if the turnovers continue and the losses pile up, Bentley's improvement may be too hard to ignore.
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This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Bowe Bentley continues to impress with his development at Oklahoma
