John Mateer haters are still clinging to a major flaw but ignore the obvious

Oklahoma fans are expecting (or at least hoping for) a much-improved John Mateer in 2026 considering he's healthy and has seemingly done everything he can this offseason to get better ahead of Year 2 as the Sooners' QB1. However, healthy or not, many still have their doubts, including national analysts and even fans within Sooner Nation.

The most recent to rant that it wasn't Mateer's broken thumb on his throwing hand that hindered him throughout most of last season was CBS Sports college football analyst Bud Elliott, who re-posted a video on X from near the end of the 2025 season, while basically noting his opinion still hasn't changed. Like many others, Elliott still doesn't expect even a healthy Mateer to be great because of his decision-making as a passer. It's senseless, though, to truly believe that a broken thumb didn't hold Mateer back.

"I’m very high on Oklahoma but there is nothing he can show me this offseason that will make me think his vision is fixed because it’s what got him in trouble at Washington State and OU," Elliott wrote. "Has to show on the field."

Elliott's recent post included a video of him again ragging on Mateer's vision after the Sooners beat Missouri 17-6 at home Week 13. It was also clear Elliott hasn't ever believed an injured thumb has been what's holding Mateer back from reaching a different level.

"We're seeing teams play the same defense against Mateer every week, and every week (offensive coordinator Ben) Arbuckle schemes up open guys and Mateer doesn't see it, right?" Elliott then said. "So then it leads to him having to run around and make plays because the play was there to be made, and he missed it within the structure of the play-call. A lot of people are talking about this thumb thing. The vision has been an issue since Week 1. That's not thumb-related."

Bud Elliott has a valid point but there's no denying a healthy John Mateer in 2026

Even after his first game back from thumb surgery (a loss to Texas in the Red River Rivalry), Mateer never used his surgically repaired thumb or quick return as an excuse for poor play. It was a noticeable difference, though, considering Mateer went from a Heisman Trophy favorite to fans wanting him benched before and after breaking his thumb.

Finally, in a moment of honesty during the Sooners' spring camp, Mateer admitted how difficult it was to throw the football with an injured thumb. He also mentioned then that he spent the offseason changing his throwing motion to be more over the top than sidearm.

And if you don't trust the man himself, OU legend Baker Mayfield also recently emphasized how hard it is for a quarterback to play with a broken thumb. The fact Mateer missed just one game and persevered through the injury even earned Mayfield's respect.

However, with all that, there's little arguing against voices like Elliott that Mateer's decision-making was certainly a problem at times last season. There was an instance during crunch time of the Sooners' loss to Alabama in the first round of the College Football Playoff that Mateer just flat out overlooked the easy read for a first down so Oklahoma instead had to give the ball back. Those moments happen to even the best quarterbacks, but it did seem to come up more often with Mateer behind center.

But if Elliott and you and I know it was an issue, Mateer obviously does, too. On top of modifying his throwing motion and a physical transformation, Mateer spent time this offseason studying film with OU great Sam Bradford, who excelled with his decision-making and accuracy. And that's not the only film Mateer has been watching since he was last on the field to improve.

Read more: John Mateer went back to work and Oklahoma fans should already love the results

This will also be Mateer's third year as a starter in Arbuckle's system and second season dealing with SEC defenses. All of last season was an adjustment with a broken thumb.

A healthy Mateer can only be better in 2026, even if that wasn't his biggest shortcoming.

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