The air’s thick in Norman, Oklahoma, y’all. Everybody’s eyes are low-key locked on spring practice like it’s the only thing that matters. And why? Because the heat is on Brent Venables, and it’s blazing hot. We ain’t talking mild salsa; we talking full-on, mouth-on-fire heat, and Paul Finebaum made sure of that. The man practically put a clock on Venables’ coaching career, and let’s be real, Sooner Nation ain’t exactly patient right now. In the latest spring tea; John Mateer just walked in and pulled the unthinkable which low-key cool-offs Finebaum’s ultimatum.
Oklahoma went all-in on the transfer portal trying to fix what’s been nothing short of a disaster in SEC play. Last season? Straight-up ugly. 6-7 overall, a pitiful 2-6 in the conference, and one rare bright spot — bodying Alabama 24-3 like it was some alternate universe where the Sooners actually had their act together. The wisest and most logical thing that Brent Venables did during the off-season was bringing in John Mateer from Washington Sooners in the portal. Yeah, the QB who lit up Washington last year with over 3,100 passing yards, 29 touchdowns, and a crazy 826 rushing yards for another 15 scores. John Mateer had 44 total touchdowns, leading the FBS like it was a casual Sunday stroll. So when he hit the transfer portal, you already know Oklahoma had to snatch him up, no hesitation.
Now, here’s where it gets wild. John Mateer ain’t just stepping into Norman trying to be some quiet, humble QB hoping to win the room. Nah, the man’s walking in like he owns the place. Leadership? Checked. Command of the locker room? Checked. Swagger that hits harder than a linebacker? Double-checked. According to J.D. PicKell from On3, the man’s got everybody’s attention from day one. “John Mateer is the story for a number of reasons, obviously, with what he brings via the transfer portal—brings a lot of hope, brings a lot of optimism, brings a lot of leadership,” Pickell said. And boy, he wasn’t lying.
Venables needed this. Oklahoma’s projected win total for 2025 is a measly 6.3. You know the haters are ready to roast him if they fall short again. And the schedule? Brutal. They’ve got one of the toughest slates in the whole country, so this isn’t just about surviving. It’s about redemption.
But here’s where it gets interesting: Insiders from Sooner Scoop are saying’ the vibe is different this time. The offense is actually cookin’ up something special, and the man stirring the pot in the spring practice? John Mateer. Pickell said, “What I was told from the folks over at Sooner Scoop and people close to Norman, Oklahoma, is that the offense—again, just a few practices in—different vibe to it. Now, a season ago, this was not the vibe that you were having. A season ago, you were saying, ‘Well, young quarterback, yes, new OC, all these things—can we make it work together?’ That’s not the situation right now in Norman. They think they’re going to be pretty good offensively, and a lot of it starts with John Mateer.”
Mateer’s already won the locker room, but it’s what he’s doing on the field that’s got everyone hyped. The man’s balling like it’s already game day. And with Oklahoma’s new OC Ben Arbuckle from Washington joining forces with Mateer again? Yeah, this should ease Paul Finebaum’s Stern ultimatum.
Paul Finebaum’s stern Brent Venables ultimatum
Paul Finebaum’s been straight-up ruthless about his expectations. We’re talking about an HC who’s got Oklahoma’s head coach on his Top 4 Hot Seat list. And it’s not for no reason. Two losing seasons, including a pathetic 6-7 campaign last year, and a track record that’s looking sketchier than a bad tattoo. 22-17 overall. 56.4% win rate. Thirteenth out of 19 coaches in the program’s history? Man, that’s straight-up ugly.
See, Finebaum knows what’s up: “Oklahoma was able to beat Alabama last year, but there are plenty of questions about the Sooners as well. Pressure has intensified on Brent Venables.” Finebaum said. The type of questions that got fans losing sleep at night, wondering if it’s time to throw Venables out and just eat that $34.9 million buyout like it’s another painful L. Yeah, they beat Bama, but that one game’s not enough to erase the rest of the mess. And don’t even get me started on the offensive line struggles and a roster that got shredded by injuries and the transfer portal.
But here’s where Mateer might just save the day. The man walked into Norman and did the unthinkable. He’s already won the locker room. Commanded the respect of his teammates like he’s been there for years. And if Venables can’t make this work, it’s all on him. ‘Cause right now, Mateer’s giving Oklahoma fans something they haven’t felt in a long while — hope, since Baker Mayfield days. Now, it’s all about turning that hope into wins. Because if they don’t? Well, Finebaum’s probably already writing his next scathing segment.
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