Adjusting to life in the SEC hasn't been an easy transition for Oklahoma QB John Mateer, who joined the Sooners via Washington State in the Transfer Portal over the offseason. He got off to a hot start in September, but a hand injury slowed his progress, and he hasn't looked like the same guy since.
He had just enough to beat Alabama in the regular season in Tuscaloosa; however, despite only leading the Sooners to only one offensive touchdown against the Crimson Tide. Mateer piloted an offense that barely eclipsed 200 yards. He threw for 138 yards and added only 23 yards on the ground, but Alabama's miscues (three turnovers) aided Oklahoma's 23-21 win.
Mateer's struggles, and how well the Alabama defense limited the Oklahoma offense in the regular season meeting, have provided optimism that the Crimson Tide can go into Norman on Friday night and avenge the regular season defeat and advance to the Rose Bowl quarterfinal of the College Football Playoff.
Hopefully, Mateer's Monday practice blunder is a preview of things to come against Alabama in a few days.
In a pocket drill at Oklahoma's practice, Mateer backpedaled directly into a stationary tackling dummy and took a spill:
John Mateer takes a spill during Monday's open practice — and his teammates get a kick out of it.
— Carson Field (@CarsonDField) December 15, 2025
😅😅@SoonersOnSI pic.twitter.com/nEumfdekc0
Alabama will hope to replicate the tackling dummy's success vs. John Mateer
Alabama sacked Mateer twice during the regular season. He's a guy, despite what that video might make you otherwise believe, who is difficult to get to and bring down. You have to be disciplined in your rush lanes, or he can burn you with his legs.
Alabama did a pretty good job of that a month ago, holding him to just 23 total rushing yards, though he did break free for a 20-yard touchdown run for the only offensive touchdown of the afternoon for the Sooners in a play that Kane Wommack called unacceptable by his defense.
Alabama must take advantage of any mistakes Mateer might make. He had several turnover-worthy plays against the Crimson Tide at Bryant-Denny a month ago, but Alabama failed to take advantage.
One of the biggest turning point moments of the game was Mateer throwing a would-be interception in the second quarter that Justin Jefferson dropped while Oklahoma was holding a 10-7 lead. It likely would have been a pick-six. Instead, Oklahoma punted, Ryan Williams fumbled on the ensuing return, and Mateer ran a 20-yard touchdown just a couple of plays later to put the Sooners up by 10.
If Mateer is going to make mistakes again, Alabama cannot let him off the hook. He threw three interceptions against LSU in Oklahoma's last game, a mark that would almost surely lead to a Crimson Tide win on Friday night if they can replicate it.