Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables confirmed that his staff talked about pulling quarterback John Mateer at halftime during the Sooners’ 41‑13 loss to No. 2 Georgia. The discussion came after Mateer turned the ball over on three consecutive drives in the second quarter, allowing the Bulldogs to take a 28‑0 lead before the break.
Turnovers set the tone
Mateer finished the game completing 25 of 34 passes for 231 yards, two touchdowns, one interception and two lost fumbles. The first turnover was a fumble recovered by Georgia linebacker Chris Cole, who returned it 85 yards for a touchdown. On the next drive, KJ Bolden intercepted Mateer, and minutes later Raylen Wilson forced another fumble that Cole recovered again, putting Georgia in scoring position.
Coaches weigh options
“It’s something that, you know, we discussed,” Venables said after the game. “We’ll look at everything, you know, how to get better.” Offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle added, “We discussed all options on the headset and ultimately still felt like John was our best choice to win the game.” Both coaches noted that the string of turnovers has bruised Mateer’s confidence, but they emphasized that no one is more disappointed than the quarterback himself.
Mateer, a fifth‑year starter, responded that he is still playing fast and trusts the process, even though the results have not been favorable. “I think I’m still playing fast,” he said. “I’m not questioning what I do during the play. I think the process is where it needs to be. I think it’s just not working out, so I wouldn’t say so.”
Recent turnover woes
Mateer has committed six turnovers in his last three games, including a late interception that set up Michigan’s game‑winning touchdown in Week 2. Earlier, he threw two interceptions against New Mexico in a narrow 14‑6 win that dropped the preseason No. 10 Sooners out of the AP Top 25.
Venables stressed the importance of ball security, stating, “Nothing impacts a game like turnovers. Number one priority is taking care of the football, and we certainly failed miserably at doing that.”
Looking ahead
Despite the setback, the Sooners have a week off before their next challenge: the Red River Rivalry against No. 1 Texas in Dallas on Oct. 10. Mateer vowed the team will not quit, saying, “It’s not who we are. It’s not what we do. It’s not what our head coach does.”
The upcoming matchup will test whether the coaching staff sticks with Mateer or makes a change at the position, a decision that will likely hinge on his ability to protect the ball and regain confidence.
Original reporting: Dallas TX News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
