The remaining wait for the 2025 college football season shouldn't be as long and boring for Sooner Nation.
EA Sports' College Football 26 officially released on Thursday and, luckily for OU fans with a controller, the Oklahoma Sooners are the funnest team to play with in the game thanks to new quarterback John Mateer and several other playmakers.
Sooners are funnest team to play with in CFB26
Mateer was already a lot of fun to watch on Saturdays -- even last season with Washington State -- because of his toughness and dual-threat ability that had him lead the FBS with 44 total touchdowns. Now with more weapons around him and a favorable rating by EA Sports, Mateer is just as fun to play with.
EA Sports made Mateer a top-5 QB and the only Sooner that's a top-100 overall player with a 91 overall rating, which is the highest on OU's roster. He's obviously a dynamic passer in the game, but his 89 speed rating mixed with other solid attributes as a ballcarrier make him a good time if he's on your team.
I made some decisions I definitely shouldn't have, but Mateer still somehow thread the needle and completed passes, which is nice in a game where interceptions can often ruin your good time.
When no one is open, though, he's easy to pick up yardage with on a scramble. The best time, though, is read options with running back Jaydn Ott. It's almost a guaranteed positive play if you read things right with those two options.
Ott is the lead man for a loaded backfield. Ott, Jovantae Barnes, Xavier Robinson and Taylor Tatum all have an overall rating above 83. And the offensive line is solid enough to let you do what you want in the running game (but do expect some pressure when passing).
Tatum is the most underrated weapon in the backfield with an 83 overall rating. He's dangerous, though, because of his 94 speed rating as one of the fastest players on the team. Nothing against Barnes and Robinson, but I swapped Tatum in as my No. 2 for some explosive plays.
Speed also kills for the Sooners at receiver. Deion Burks (88 overall) was a known playmaker, but Jayden Gibson (83 overall) and Isaiah Sategna (81 overall) gives an unfair advantage paired with Mateer. For some reason, Sategna is buried on the depth chart behind a placeholder so you'll have to move him up, but make sure to get the ball in his hands with a 95 speed rating. He's also the main return man.
Gibson isn't the quickest with an 88 speed rating, but he seems to always be open. And Ott just adds another advantage when lined up at receiver. Between these four, one is going to be open when you call a deep pass.
Defensively, where I tend to struggle, Kip Lewis will pick up the slack at linebacker when not controlled. Robert Spears-Jennings is also a magnet at free safety and seems to pull in interceptions at just the right time.
If CFB26 is anywhere close to how the real 2025 Sooners will be, then Sooner Nation is in for a treat.
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