Replacements for anything being compared is unavoidable.
Comparisons between the Oklahoma Sooners' old and new quarterback have already begun before the 2025 college football season even kicked off. This offseason, Jackson Arnold transferred to SEC foe Auburn, and to replace him, the Sooners added John Mateer, the top player in the transfer portal this past winter. Now, as things go, someone has to come out a winner in the swap.
College football fans are already measuring up Mateer and Arnold
How closely will Jackson Arnold and John Mateer be compared this season? pic.twitter.com/uwZomKGgYi
— Zac Blackerby (@Zblackerby) June 27, 2025
Brent Venables replacing Jeff Lebby & Jackson Arnold with Ben Arbuckle & John Mateer.
— Mike Zimmelman (@MZimmel) December 19, 2024
Atta boy, Oklahoma. #BoomerSooner https://t.co/NOuWpLDIqn pic.twitter.com/mGP1NDda5n
Who will be better in 2025:
— SEC Mike (@MichaelWBratton) February 10, 2025
Jackson Arnold at Auburn or John Mateer at Oklahoma?
Full show: https://t.co/2QOSMUgtC4 pic.twitter.com/33sAMnHmDj
Arnold was disappointing in his lone season as the Sooners' starting quarterback after getting to campus as one of the highest-rated recruits in OU history. He threw for only 1,421 yards and 12 touchdowns in 10 games last season. He was even benched for three games at one point and replaced with freshman Michael Hawkins Jr.
But it could be argued that Arnold's struggles were because of his situation as the Sooners had a historically bad offense. Brent Venables fired offensive coordinator Seth Littrell midway through the season. The offensive line was dreadful and barely gave Arnold any time to look down field. The receiving corps was also decimated by injuries, with the five best receivers missing most, if not all, of the season.
Meanwhile, Mateer led all of FBS with 44 total touchdowns last season and has Heisman hype heading into his OU debut. However, he did that against a lackluster schedule and now he'll have to go through a daunting SEC slate, but he will also presumably have more talent around him and still be in the same system.
Comparisons will only heat up even more once the season is here and the two quarterbacks are actually playing with their new teams. And on Sept. 20, the two will be compared side-by-side when Arnold returns to Norman and his replacement is on the other sideline.
Sooner Nation will want confirmation that Venables made the right move in letting Arnold walk and bringing in Mateer with his offensive coordinator, Ben Arbuckle. The rest of the college football world will wonder if Arnold's struggles were because of his ability, or because of his situation at OU.
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