SEC analyst predicts OU QB John Mateer will score more TDs than Texas' Arch Manning
He may not even end up being the best quarterback in the SEC.
Oklahoma's new signal-caller, John Mateer, is ranked as one of the top five quarterbacks in the country and the No. 1 transfer-portal recruit. His sophomore season in 2024 at Washington State, Mateer threw for 29 touchdowns and ran for 15 more, leading the nation in total scores. At least one SEC media personality thinks he'll top Manning in the former again, too.
"My bold prediction," SEC Mike, otherwise known as Michael Bratton, said on his podcast. "John Mateer scores more touchdowns than Arch Manning. How about it? I mean, c'mon, is that even a bold prediction?"
More: SEC quarterback rankings for the 2025 season
It isn't that bold, frankly. Mateer has more weapons in Norman than he did in Pullman, Washington, with the Cougars last year. He's also getting to work another year with offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle, who actually left the Paloose for OU first. Arbuckle was a big reason the Sooners ended up landing Mateer out of the transfer portal over the winter. Oklahoma also picked up former first-team All-Pac 12 running back Jadyn Ott to keep teams from selling out against Mateer's arm.
Still, Mateer doesn't find himself on many preseason top 10 lists for Heisman favorites like Manning does. The Texas quarterback is the top choice in June, according to DraftKings' list. Manning played significantly in just three games for the Longhorns last year, serving mostly as a backup to Quinn Ewers.
Oklahoma and Texas will meet in the annual Red River Rivalry in Dallas on October 11.
Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions.
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New York Times
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- New York Times
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Alabama is nearly unbeatable at home the past 20 years. 9. Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Florida As former coach Steve Spurrier aptly said, 'only Gators get out alive' from The Swamp. Florida has won 71.4% of its home games against SEC opponents the past 10 years, compared to 47.6% on the road in conference games. That's the definition of home-field advantage. 10. Kyle Field, Texas A&M Yeah, there are some odd chants, routines and hand signs from the school's Aggie Yell Leaders. But don't be mistaken: Kyle Field towers like no other and literally shakes when the noise swells (as it often does). The Aggies entering to 'POWER' is one of college football's best intros. 11. Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Oklahoma A touch smaller than other SEC colossuses with a capacity of 80,126, the "Palace on the Prairie" still more than holds its own. (Seven national title banners hanging inside help deliver that message.) The Sooner Schooner cruising the field paints a scene fit for one of the nation's premier football conferences. 12. Michigan Stadium, Michigan The largest venue by capacity in college sports? Check. But that's selling Michigan Stadium short: This is the largest stadium by total seating in the Western Hemisphere and the third-largest in the world. Though their current digs were completed in 1927, the Wolverines are 662-154-21 at home since 1883. 13. Jordan-Hare Stadium, Auburn Some say Jordan-Hare uncorks a strange voodoo magic on opponents. (See the "Prayer in Jordan-Hare" and the 2012 Iron Bowl, held just two weeks apart, for one example.) It may also just be that Auburn fans create a tough environment that lends itself to late-game meltdowns or heroics. Find someone who loves you the way Auburn fans love to 'Swag Surf.' 14. Notre Dame Stadium, Notre Dame "The House that Rockne Built" is iconic enough to essentially be a pictorial stand-in for college football itself. 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But you have to also admit that the Longhorn faithful can turn it up for big games. Texas has won 14 of 15 at home. 17. Williams-Brice Stadium, South Carolina The Gamecocks peck above their weight at Williams-Brice, long one of the SEC's and broader college football's most underrated venues. The place roars to life when Darude's 'Sandstorm' plays and fans wave white towels chanting, 'U-S-C! U-S-C!' 18. Rice-Eccles Stadium, Utah The beautiful panorama in the background belies the electric game-day atmosphere inside Rice-Eccles. On a pound-for-pound (or decibel-for-decibel) level, RES is tough to beat. Utah won 18 home games in a row before losing to Oregon in 2023 19. Camp Randall Stadium, Wisconsin Don't leave your seat at the end of the third quarter. That's when Wisconsin fans "Jump Around' to the 1992 House of Pain classic of the same name, often causing Camp Randall to shake and vibrate. The tradition started in 1998, took a very brief, highly controversial hiatus in 2003 and became a rallying cry during the Badgers' development into a Big Ten powerhouse under former coaches Barry Alvarez and Bret Bielema. 20. Doak S. Campbell Stadium, Florida State Doak can be listless, as during last year's dismal 2-10 finish. But it's also been the site of several legendary wins against some of the most high-profile opponents in the country and continues to rank among the unfriendliest venues for visitors when the Seminoles are rolling. Overall, FSU is 322-109-4 at Doak Campbell (74.5%). 21. Lane Stadium, Virginia Tech Start with the best introduction in college football: Virginia Tech takes the field to Metallica's "Enter Sandman," quickly setting the tone for what can often be the scariest place to play in the ACC. While the home-field advantage has taken a hit this decade, the edge provided by Lane Stadium helped put Tech on the map under legendary coach Frank Beamer. 22. LaVell Edwards Stadium, Brigham Young Provo's towering mountaintops gives LaVell Edwards Stadium some of the most beautiful scenery in college football this side of the Rose Bowl. A noisy, intense and intimidating home crowd is supported by the nearly mile-high elevation that can wear down opponents. BYU is 25-6 at home since 2020. 23. Albertsons Stadium, Boise State The bane of opposing coaches and defenders for decades, the program's legendary blue turf is enough to land Boise on this list. But don't forget the Broncos have gone 212-45 at home since installing the turf in 1986, developing the finest home-field advantage in the Group of Five and helping the program establish itself among the most consistently successful in the sport. 24. Kinnick Stadium, Iowa The environment at Kinnick has helped Iowa go 22-6 at home since 2021. It's also home to the best new tradition in the sport: Since 2017, players and fans turn at the end of the first quarter and wave to the patients at Stead Family Children's Hospital. 'The Hawkeye Wave' is already an indelible part of the college football fabric. 25. Boone Pickens Stadium, Oklahoma State The oldest stadium in the Big 12 and one of the few in the country to run in an east-west direction received a major facelift and reboot with Oklahoma State's development into a regional and national player in the 2000s, resulting in all 10 of the most-attended games in program history occurring since 2011. While things ran off the rails last season, Mike Gundy's teams dropped only three home games from 2020-23. (The stadium gets bonus points for having the nicest press-box restroom experience in the Power Four.)
