Some head coaches even at the highest level take the opportunity to put the blame on someone else, but after the worst performance of his career on the biggest stage yet, with a list of excuses handy to choose from, Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer only blamed himself.
The No. 6 Sooners suffered their first deficit of the season with a 23-6 loss to an unranked Texas team on Saturday in Dallas.
Leading up to one of the most anticipated rivalry games in all of college football, even with the preseason Heisman Trophy favorite playing quarterback for the other team with a famous last name and the best defense in the country sharing the same locker room, it was still Mateer who stole the headlines for 17 days. It was particularly Mateer’s surgically repaired thumb with the spotlight, which also meant, after nothing went right for the Sooners, all thumbs were pointed at Mateer.
Mateer takes blame after Oklahoma's loss in Red River Rivalry
Mateer completed only 53% of his passes for a season-low 202 yards and didn’t score a touchdown while throwing three interceptions. He also had a team-high 14 carries but had only five rushing yards, another season-low.
“The pain level was nothing,” Mateer said postgame. “There’s no excuse. I was ready to go — physically, mentally. I just didn’t perform. My eyes weren’t as good as they needed to be. When your quarterback doesn’t play good football, hard to win in this league. That’s what happened.
“Honored to play in the game and see the atmosphere. I just didn’t play good enough.”
Mateer was sacked five times. He had no run game to rely on as the Sooners averaged 1.6 yards a carry. His receivers dropped pass after pass. When Mateer finally broke off a long run, a holding penalty sent the offense back for a 3rd-and-long.
Mateer’s performance came just 17 days after surgery on his throwing hand. According to ESPN, Drew Brees had the same surgery and was sidelined for five weeks.
In the first half, Mateer’s injured hand hit a helmet and was gushing blood on the sideline as he talked with offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle. Mateer didn’t miss a snap.
John Mateer’s hand is bleeding on the sideline after taking a hit 😬 pic.twitter.com/JP1N0aTkPA
— Bleacher Report CFB (@BR_CFB) October 11, 2025
“It was good,” Mateer said. “Held a ball, kept it warm. Didn’t feel it when I was on the field.”
Mateer had his surgery during the bye week, then was out the Sooners’ last game against Kent State. He still insisted on fully suiting up even though he wasn’t going to play.
As it was unknown if he’d play against Texas and he was still recovering, Mateer didn’t get to practice like everyone else. ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported that Mateer practiced “some” the week before the game. On Tuesday, OU head coach Brent Venables said Mateer hadn’t participated in any “good-on-good work.”
Before he was even off the field, those watching his poor performance already started giving Mateer the excuse that he just looked like a player who had surgery only 17 days before and missed a lot of practice.
“I got to practice a good amount,” Mateer said. “It has nothing to do with how I performed. I was prepared, studied film the same way. I just didn’t come out ready to play.”
There weren’t just excuses for why Mateer struggled in his first Red River Rivalry, but reasons. Yet, Mateer still shut them all down.
Some believe Saturday at Cotton Bowl Stadium that Mateer proved he’s the not the player we all thought he was. And they’re correct, but not in the way they think they are.