John Mateer's turnover problem is one Ben Arbuckle can't fix, even if he still believes he can

Oklahoma offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle was finally asked the question most college football fans have been wondering for weeks now: Why the heck is he sticking with John Mateer as the Sooners’ starting quarterback?

SoonerScoop’s George Stoia didn’t exactly ask it that way, but Arbuckle’s time at the podium during Tuesday’s weekly press conference started with the question. He was also later asked about freshman quarterback Bowe Bentley, who many OU fans are ready to see behind center instead of Mateer.

Did we get the truth about Mateer? Who knows. What we got was an answer from Arbuckle that sounded like he rehearsed it in the mirror.

“Everything that he’s done, the player that he is, the preparation that he has, we believe that John Mateer gives us the best chance to win,” Arbuckle said. “Like I’ve said multiple times, we have to eliminate backbreaking errors, catastrophic errors. For all the good that he does, we have to eliminate those. And he’s not alone in that.

“I take full responsibility for those plays whenever they happen. Ultimately, I’m the one who calls the play out there. Ultimately, I’m the one who designs them, and if something bad happens, I believe it falls back on me. John’s the one out there playing, making the decision in the real moment whenever it happens, but at the end of the day, I have to be better and I have to take accountability for whenever one of those backbreaking mistakes happen.”

Oklahoma will keep suffering from John Mateer's turnovers until the correct change is made

Arbuckle did the noble thing and tried to fall on the sword for his player. Usually, the offensive coordinator taking full responsibility for issues with the offense is accurate, but of everything Arbuckle can take the blame for right now, this might be the only thing out of his control, at least not in the way he says.

The reason Arbuckle is responsible for Mateer’s failures is that he keeps sending him out there and doesn’t have anyone else ready to step in, even when Mateer proves Murphy Law to be gospel. It doesn’t matter what scheme is planned or what play is dialed up.

Arbuckle’s statement somewhat epitomizes Mateer as a player. There is a lot of good that Mateer does, especially against Kentucky on Saturday, but none of it mattered because of three “backbreaking mistakes,” as Arbuckle calls them.

Mateer looked to be to his early 2025 form for three quarters against Kentucky. Even his first interception wasn’t his fault, as the ball was knocked by a pass rusher coming from his blindside. He ultimately completed 60% of his 40 passes for 270 yards and a touchdown.

But then he broke the Sooners’ backs.

Down 14-13 with 1:17 left and a chance to win the game, Mateer threw a head-scratching pick-six. Even then, though, the Sooners still had a chance, now down 21-13 with 1:11 left. But Mateer threw another interception that sealed OU’s fate.

Moments like this have come to define Mateer. With the game on the line against Michigan, he threw an interception in the fourth quarter that put the Wolverines on the six-yard line to easily set up their game-winning touchdown. His turnovers lost the Georgia game before it barely got going, with a turnover on three straight possessions in the second quarter.

The Sooners have the worst turnover margin among all Power 4 teams at -1.33, which is why they’re lucky to even be 3-3 halfway through the season. Of their 14 turnovers this season, Mateer has been responsible for nine of them, with seven interceptions and two lost fumbles.

It’s cliché because it’s the truth, but teams can’t win games while turning the ball over. That means the Sooners can’t win games with Mateer at quarterback.

If Mateer were to eliminate the catastrophic turnovers, then he’d be a good quarterback. But we’ve seen enough to conclude that this isn’t just a phase; it’s who Mateer is.

Arbuckle believes all will be good in Oklahoma if Mateer eliminates the “backbreaking errors.” But Mateer is a backbreaker.

Arbuckle can’t change Mateer, so if eliminating mistakes is the change the Sooners need, then it’s clear what actually needs to change.

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