Toronto Star
· collected 2026-10-04 · by Tim Willert The Associated Press
Oklahoma faces significant quarterback issues as they prepare for their rivalry game against No. 1 Texas this weekend. Starting quarterback John Mateer, once seen as a Heisman Trophy frontrunner, has struggled with six turnovers in three games and threw three interceptions against Texas last year. Coach Brent Venables is hesitant to confirm whether Mateer will start or how much he’ll play, also suggesting that backups Whitt Newbauer and Bowe Bentley may see increased action. Defensive back Peyton Bowen, a friend of Mateer from high school, emphasizes the importance of supporting his teammate through this difficult time.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-04,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
In NORMAN, Oklahoma is grappling with quarterback concerns as they prepare for their rivalry game against top-ranked Texas. Former five-star recruit Jackson Arnold faced significant pressure at Oklahoma but transferred to Auburn after failing to meet expectations. Current starter John Mateer, a highly touted transfer from Washington State, has struggled recently with six turnovers in just three games, raising doubts about his ability to lead the Sooners against the No. 1 Longhorns this weekend. Defensive back Peyton Bowen, who was also a five-star recruit at Guyer High School alongside Arnold, empathizes with Mateer’s situation and highlights the intense scrutiny players endure when failing to live up to lofty expectations set by their recruitment status.
Written for “Oklahoma Texas Rivalry Week” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — Peyton Bowen knows a struggling quarterback when he sees one.
asserted
he → know → one
The Oklahoma defensive back shared a locker room with Jackson Arnold, who played his way out of Norman two season ago, and John Mateer, who may have played his way out of the Sooners’ starting lineup with No. 1 Texas coming up this weekend.
uncertain
Texas → share → lineup
Bowen sees similarities between the paths traveled by Arnold, the can’t-miss prospect from Denton, Texas, and Mateer, the highly touted transfer from Washington State.
asserted
Bowen → see → State
Bowen and Arnold were five-star recruits at Guyer High School before signing with Oklahoma.
asserted
Bowen → sign → Oklahoma
“Being his friend from high school and seeing how much he was on a pedestal to just being thrown tomatoes at, damn near, I mean it sucks,” he said.
asserted
he → see → tomatoes
“I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy.
asserted
I → wish → enemy
I don’t think people know the effect of the words they’re saying and just think that they’re coaches and stuff and play ball.
asserted
they → think → ball
This is a whole different thing, like (John) is a human being, so I know what he’s going through.
asserted
he → know → what
I’ve seen what he’s going through.
asserted
he → see → what
”
While Arnold failed to live up to expectations and transferred to Auburn following the 2024 season, Mateer’s stock has plummeted with six turnovers in three games, including two fumbles and an interception in a 41-13 loss at No. 2 Georgia.
asserted
stock → fail → Georgia
At this time a year ago, Mateer was considered a frontrunner for the Heisman Trophy.
asserted
Mateer → consider → Trophy
Then came the 23-6 loss to the archrival Longhorns, where he completed 50% of his passes for just 202 yards and threw three interceptions in his first loss since arriving on campus.
asserted
he → come → campus
This time, the Texas game presents an opportunity but the Sooners (2-2, 0-1 SEC) are averaging just over 12 points per game over their last three and Texas (4-0, 1-0) has the nation’s 22nd-ranked defense.
asserted
Texas → present → defense
It is unclear if Mateer will start or how much he will play.
uncertain
he → start → much
Coach Brent Venables said lsat Wednesday that backups Whitt Newbauer and Bowe Bentley “took a lot of the reps today.”
asserted
Newbauer → say → reps
Venables was asked if either would play against the Longhorns.
asserted
either → ask → Longhorns
“I have no idea,” he said.
asserted
he → have → idea
“We’re not there right now ...
asserted
We → ’re → ?
John’s our starting quarterback.”
asserted
John → ’ → ?
Newbauer is a 6-foot-6 junior who played at Mercer University last season while Bentley is a 6-1 freshman from Celina, Texas.
asserted
Bentley → play → Celina
“We’ve got great belief in them, trust in them,” Venables said.
asserted
Venables → get → them
“There’s a body of work that both of those guys, both Bowe and Whit, have put out there and for us to evaluate.
asserted
us → ’ → guys
They’re doing a nice job, they’re working hard, improving incrementally and doing all the things that we want our quarterback to do as a whole, as a group.”
asserted
quarterback → do → group
Bowen and Mateer are senior captains and neighbors who frequently hang out together.
asserted
who → hang → ?
Bowen stressed the importance of continuing to “lift up” his embattled teammate.
asserted
Bowen → stress → teammate
“I go over there and check on (John) all the time,” he said.
asserted
he → go → John
“I try to help him as much as I can.
asserted
I → try → him
I mean, that’s a hard spot to be in.
asserted
that → mean → ?
I know the type of player that he is and the type of player that he can be, and there’s a long season ahead.”
asserted
he → know → player
Bowen added: “I think he just has to get his swagger back. ...
asserted
he → add → swagger
He’s a great leader, a great teammate, great ballplayer.
asserted
He → ’ → ?
He just has to get out of his own head right now and that’s all it is.”
asserted
it → have → head
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