Maybe there are more changes coming to Oklahoma's offense after all.
OU head coach Brent Venables insinuated during his coach's show on Monday night that John Mateer will start at quarterback for the Sooners when they travel to Florida on Saturday, just five days after firing offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle. CBS Sports national college football senior reporter Matt Zenitz also reported that Mateer will start while taking the same amount of first-team reps, with Jason Witten now in charge of the offense.
"I'm not talking about depth charts or anything like that," Venables said on Monday. "... I think our guys believe in John. Some of the decisions we've made is because of that."
Venables sang a different tune during Tuesday's weekly press conference, though, while still proclaiming his confidence in Mateer. He still refused to discuss reps and the depth chart, but Venables did leave the door open for a possible change at QB when asked point-blank if the plan was for Mateer to start against Florida.
"Everything's on the table," Venables bluntly answered.
That's the widest Venables has opened the door yet this season for a QB change. Even through inaccuracy and infinite turnovers, with many OU fans screaming for a change, Venables has still consistently backed Mateer.
Mateer has shown flashes during his two seasons at OU, but has overall been inaccurate and turnover-prone. He had an injury to blame last year, but Mateer has actually been worse this season when healthy. He's thrown for 1,835 yards and 13 touchdowns this season, but most notably, he's been responsible for 10 turnovers, with seven interceptions and three fumbles.
"Everybody has a fresh start, fresh slate with the (OC) change," Venables said earlier in the press conference. "So we'll see where all that goes. But players do believe in John. We've got a couple of good young quarterbacks in Whitt (Newbauer) and Bowe (Bentley). But we'll see where all that goes from here."
John Mateer should still be expected to start vs. Florida
We all know exactly what kind of player Mateer is at this point, even if he's only ever played in Arbuckle's system, but we have no idea about former Mercer transfer Whitt Newbauer or freshman Bowe Bentley. Arbuckle kept both inexperienced quarterbacks on the sideline, even during garbage time against South Carolina on Saturday and after Mateer turned the ball over three times in the first half against Georgia.
Thanks to Arbuckle's failure to prepare either backup, a trip to The Swamp in Gainesville, Florida, would be the worst time to break in a green quarterback. It will also be Witten's first time calling plays at the college level. Communication could already be difficult, but that will only be enhanced by 88,548 fans yelling.
Mateer should have a shorter leash, but he will still likely start against Florida on Saturday. The argument against that would be for Newbauer or Bentley to get experience, since the season is already lost, and to see what the Sooners have for next year.
But let's face it, after not sniffing the field while the guy in front of them failed over and over again, and a new OC on the way soon, Newbauer and Bentley won't be playing for the Sooners in 2027.
Venables' priority right now is winning football games so he doesn't suffer the same fate as Arbuckle. He can't think about next season yet. Right now, the veteran is best suited for OU's situation, but that doesn't mean there won't be a different quarterback when the Sooners host Ole Miss next week in Norman.
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