Oklahoma Sooners’ John Mateer: The Next Big Thing in 2025 | Brent Venables’ Tenure Disappointing?
As the Oklahoma Sooners look ahead to the 2025 season, all eyes are on a rising star—John Mateer. The highly touted prospect has made waves with his impressive performances and continues to build excitement about his future in Norman. But with the focus shifting toward the future, the question arises: Is Brent Venables’ tenure at Oklahoma living up to expectations?
Let’s take a deeper dive into what the future holds for Mateer and how Venables’ time as head coach might be shaping up—especially with the challenges that still lie ahead.
John Mateer: The Next Big Thing for Oklahoma?
John Mateer, a highly skilled quarterback, has generated buzz across the college football landscape for his future potential. The Oklahoma Sooners have always been known for producing elite quarterbacks, from Baker Mayfield to Kyler Murray and Jalen Hurts, and Mateer could be next in line to join this prestigious group. With his high football IQ, strong arm, and dynamic playmaking ability, Mateer has all the tools necessary to make a significant impact once he takes the reins in Norman.
As a high school recruit, Mateer demonstrated his talent in a big way, finishing his high school career with over 4,000 passing yards and 40 touchdowns. His ability to read defenses, quick release, and athleticism have made him a fan favorite and earned him early comparisons to some of the best quarterbacks in college football history.
However, there’s a lot to prove for Mateer. While his high school resume is impressive, the step up to college football brings a new set of challenges. Fortunately, the Sooners have an excellent coaching staff, and the transition to the college game looks promising for Mateer. He has the potential to be the next great Oklahoma quarterback, but it will be his performances in spring practices, fall camp, and in actual game action that will truly determine his readiness to take over the offense.
Fans are eagerly awaiting the upcoming seasons to see how Mateer develops and what kind of impact he can make as the quarterback of a top-tier program. He might not be the starter right away, but given his immense potential, it wouldn’t be surprising if he sees significant playing time and is given the chance to prove himself as the leader of the Sooners’ offense.
Brent Venables’ Tenure: A Disappointing Start?
When Brent Venables took over as head coach of the Oklahoma Sooners, expectations were sky-high. Venables, a former defensive coordinator for Clemson, was brought in to restore the defensive dominance that Oklahoma had been missing in recent years. After a successful stint in Clemson, where he helped lead the Tigers to multiple national championships, Venables was viewed as the perfect fit to turn around a program that had been offensively dominant but defensively suspect for years.
However, Venables’ tenure has yet to fully meet the lofty expectations set for him. While he inherited a team with plenty of talent, the Sooners have faced several challenges in the first few years of his tenure, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Oklahoma’s defense has shown flashes of improvement under Venables, but it has struggled at times to maintain consistency against some of the Big 12’s top offenses. Injuries and youth have certainly played a role, but Venables’ squad has yet to live up to the dominant defensive identity that fans expected when he was hired.
In his first season at the helm, Oklahoma finished with an overall record of 6-7, their worst showing since 1998. The struggles were most apparent on the defensive side of the ball, where the Sooners gave up averaging 30+ points per game. The inability to make key stops in critical moments, combined with inconsistent play in the secondary, has made it difficult for Oklahoma to maintain control in games, especially against high-powered offenses.
This disappointment has sparked concerns about whether Venables’ defensive philosophy is taking hold in Norman. Venables was known for building tough, hard-hitting defenses during his time at Clemson, and fans had hoped that the Sooners’ defense would quickly mirror that success. However, with the team still struggling to find a consistent rhythm on defense, many are wondering how long it will take for Venables to turn things around.
Adding to the pressure on Venables is the growing competition in the Big 12. With programs like Texas, Kansas State, and Baylor all making strides, the Sooners can no longer rely solely on offensive firepower to win games. Venables needs to find a way to get his defense in top form to ensure Oklahoma remains among the top contenders in the conference.
What Needs to Change for Venables?
If Brent Venables is to solidify his legacy and avoid being seen as a disappointment in his tenure, he must improve Oklahoma’s defense and get the team back to championship contention. Several key areas need to be addressed for the Sooners to get back on track:
- Defensive Line Play – The defense’s struggles have often started up front. Oklahoma needs to build a stronger defensive line capable of applying consistent pressure on the quarterback and stuffing the run. Venables has historically been able to develop strong defensive lines, and the Sooners will need to see that same level of performance.
- Secondary Development – While Oklahoma has talent in the secondary, they have been burned by big plays and struggled to make key stops in clutch moments. Venables needs to ensure that his defensive backs are in the right position to make plays and be aggressive when necessary.
- Recruiting – Recruiting elite talent will be key for Venables to turn the program around. While Oklahoma has continued to attract high-level prospects, securing top-tier defensive recruits is essential for the Sooners to close the gap with other elite teams in the country. Venables has a solid track record in recruiting, but the Sooners need to ensure that they are bringing in the best defensive prospects in the country.
- Quarterback Play – A key part of Oklahoma’s offensive success has been the quarterback position. With John Mateer potentially taking over as the future signal-caller, Venables will need to ensure that his quarterback develops and gets the necessary support from the offensive line and skill players to succeed. Whether it’s Mateer or another QB, having solid play under center will help stabilize the offense.
- Consistency – One of the biggest concerns has been the lack of consistency. Oklahoma’s defense has shown it can perform at a high level, but they need to be able to put together complete games, particularly against top competition. Venables will need to get his team to consistently perform at a championship level on both sides of the ball.
The Outlook for the Sooners in 2025
Looking ahead to the 2025 season, Oklahoma fans remain hopeful that the program can turn the corner under Brent Venables. While the first few years of his tenure have been filled with growing pains, the potential for improvement is there. The Sooners have a strong recruiting class coming in, and with John Mateer as a potential leader at quarterback, the future looks bright on offense.
However, Venables needs to prove that his defensive philosophy will translate into success on the field. If he can develop a championship-caliber defense and continue to recruit at a high level, Oklahoma could be back in contention for Big 12 titles and beyond.
In conclusion, while Brent Venables’ tenure has had some early disappointments, it’s still far too early to fully assess his time at Oklahoma. The program’s future hinges on how well the defense develops and whether players like John Mateer can lead the offense to success. The Sooners remain a powerhouse in college football, and with the right adjustments, Venables can return them to prominence in the coming years. The 2025 season will be a critical year for both the Sooners and their head coach.
