A switch flipped for redshirt junior quarterback John Mateer.
On a first down with 12:57 left in the third quarter, Mateer threw an incomplete pass to redshirt senior wide receiver Deion Burks. Mateer, at this time, had only completed eight passes in 19 attempts, and OU’s offense was not up to par.
However, on third and 11 with 12:45 left, Mateer found senior tight end Jaren Kanak for a first down and got into a groove.
Mateer completed 16 of his final 17 passes in OU’s 24-17 win over Auburn on Saturday, and the only incompletion was a drop by senior running back Jovantae Barnes.
Mateer finished with 271 passing yards and 29 rushing yards, while completing 67% of his passes.
“I think I just settled in,” Mateer said. “I really started understanding what (Auburn) was doing.”
After Auburn scored a go-ahead touchdown with 7:08 left in the fourth quarter, OU faced adversity for the first time this season. The offense couldn’t get the run game going, and OU didn't have a big play through the air yet either.
However, six plays later, the Sooners were back in the lead and never gave it back. Mateer found redshirt junior wide receiver Isaiah Sategna for a 31-yard gain — OU’s longest play of the day — before Mateer scored a 9-yard touchdown on the ground to put OU ahead with 4:54 to go.
“You ain’t got a choice,” Mateer said. “We had to go score. I don’t want to lose this game. Nobody wants to lose this game when it comes down to it.”
Sategna also set a career high for receiving yards in a game with 127 on nine receptions. He also added a touchdown. His previous career high was set a week ago against Temple.
Easy into the end zone 🤲📺 ABC pic.twitter.com/inXsX7m4UI
— Oklahoma Football (@OU_Football) September 20, 2025
“He’s super smart and super reliable,” Mateer said. “He’s going to be where he needs to be every time, and that’s why he’s getting the production.”
Between Mateer and Sategna, the Sooners put up an impressive performance against an AP Top 25 team before they play six remaining games against teams in the rankings. OU also earned a win late in the game for the second time this season — something that has previously rarely been the case under head coach Brent Venables with only one Top 25 win in 2024.
As OU looks to stack more wins, the offense will follow Mateer, who persevered against Auburn.
“I have all the trust in the world in John Mateer,” offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle said. “There’s a few things in the first half he wishes he could have back. It was a good, subtle reminder at halftime to relax. Everything we want is there.”
TOUCHDOWN OKLAHOMA 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/VD9OBdPyCe
— Oklahoma Football (@OU_Football) September 20, 2025
Mateer said he embraces opportunities like the Auburn game.
“This is the atmosphere every kid dreams of,” Mateer said. “I’m getting to play it, and getting to control the game as a quarterback is surreal. It’s awesome.”
This story was edited by Joshua McDaniel.
