Starting quarterback John Mateer's stock has plummeted with six turnovers in three games, leaving Oklahoma with questions heading into its game against archrival and No. 1 Texas in Dallas on Saturday. The unranked Sooners (2-2, 0-1 SEC), which began the season at No. 10, are averaging just over 12 points per game over their past three. The Longhorns (4-0, 1-0) have the nation's 22nd-ranked defense.
After saying he almost benched Mateer during the Sooners' 41-13 loss to No. 2 Georgia on Sept. 26, coach Brent Venables said last week that Mateer remains the starter, but backups Whitt Newbauer and Bowe Bentley "took a lot of the reps." "I have no idea," Venables said when asked if the backups would see action vs. Texas. "We're not there right now. ... John's our starting quarterback."
At this time a year ago, Mateer was considered a front-runner for the Heisman Trophy. Then came a 23-6 loss to the Longhorns, when he completed 50% of his passes for just 202 yards and threw three interceptions. The fifth-year quarterback is coming off a bye week following the loss to Georgia in which he had two fumbles and an interception.
"I think he just has to get his swagger back," defensive back Peyton Bowen said. "... He's a great leader, a great teammate, great ballplayer. He just has to get out of his own head right now and that's all it is."
Source: ESPN General · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing