The biggest question for weeks now in Oklahoma has been if OU quarterback John Mateer will play or not in the Red River Rivalry against unranked Texas at 2:30 p.m. CT Saturday in Cotton Bowl Stadium. And for 16 days there was no real answer.
Mateer was not listed on the final SEC Availability Report that was released just 90 minutes before kickoff, which confirms he's at least available for the Sooners against Texas and not even a game-time decision.
John Mateer injury update
Oklahoma QB John Mateer is not listed on the Game Day SEC Availability Report. Keontez Lewis, listed as questionable all week, is a game-time decision. pic.twitter.com/FuzAQZ29lT
— Stormin In Norman (@StorminInNorman) October 11, 2025
After days of doubt and no information from OU head coach Brent Venables, the first confirmation fans got that the No. 6 Sooners could have their starting quarterback on Saturday was when Mateer was upgraded from questionable to probable on Thursday's SEC Availability Report. He was listed as probable again on Friday evening, giving Mateer a 75% chance of playing and meaning he would likely play just 17 days after undergoing surgery on his right hand.
Mateer injured his throwing hand in the first quarter against Auburn on Sept. 20 and underwent surgery that following Wednesday during OU's bye week. Mateer still battled through, though, and not only finished the game with a broken bone in his hand, but scored the game-winning rushing touchdown.
That proven toughness gave OU fans even more confidence in Mateer playing against Texas when ESPN's Pete Thamel reported on Thursday that Mateer's pain and ability to grip a football could be the deciding factors in keeping Mateer off the field. Thamel also reported that Mateer "practiced some" this week, but Venables said during Tuesday's weekly press conference that Mateer hadn't participated in any "good-on-good" work and would need to to play, but Venables, maybe with gamesmanship in mind, was extremely tight-lipped about Mateer's status all week.
Although all signs point to the Sooners having Mateer behind center, if he can't go or something goes wrong, sophomore Michael Hawkins Jr. will get the nod after also starting last year's Red River Rivalry.