Oklahoma QB John Mateer Featured on The Heisman Trophy Podcast Season 3 Opener
Every now and then, college football delivers a storyline that feels like déjà vu. Think of 2024 Heisman finalist Cam Ward—a Texas quarterback who slipped through the cracks of Power 5 recruiting, landed at Washington State, broke out, and became one of the sport’s biggest stories. Now, Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer is walking a strikingly similar path.
Mateer is the featured guest on the first episode of Season 3 of The Official Heisman Trophy Podcast, hosted by Chris Huston.
Episodes and clips of The Official Heisman Trophy Podcast are available on all major podcast networks, including Spotify and Apple, as well on YouTube and TikTok.
Mateer, once overlooked in his home state of Texas despite playing at the highest levels of high school football, took his shot with Washington State. By the time we spoke to him last season on the Heisman Trophy Podcast, he was just starting to flash the potential that has now made him one of the most talked-about transfers in the nation.
After a breakout season with the Cougars, Mateer made a bold move—transferring to Oklahoma, where expectations are sky-high and history looms large. The Sooners’ quarterback lineage includes Heisman winners Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray, players Mateer grew up watching in Texas. Now, he’s stepping into that same spotlight.
“The whole move was a smooth transition,” Mateer told us. “It’s really a family here. Everyone has embraced me, and it’s been a lot of fun.”
But beyond talent, Mateer says his biggest growth has come in how he approaches the game mentally. He admitted that early on, he played recklessly—throwing his body into defenders, consumed by outside noise. Now, he focuses on protecting his body, trusting his teammates, and blocking out the critics.
“It’s the people closest to you that matter,” he said. “Not everybody else.”
Oklahoma’s defense has already given Mateer a crash course in SEC-level competition, and he credits daily battles in practice for sharpening his edge. Still, he remains humble about what it means to “make this his team.”
“I think I have the trust in my teammates,” he said. “They’ll follow my lead.”
For Mateer, the dream of leading a powerhouse like Oklahoma hasn’t quite worn off. “It’s still surreal,” he admitted. “Running out there—it’s a dream come true.”
When asked what he hopes fans see in him this fall, his answer was simple: “Toughness, intelligence, and quickness.”
The Sooners open the season Aug. 30 against Illinois State, and all eyes will be on Mateer as he writes the next chapter of a story that feels like it’s just getting started.
