Oklahoma quarterbacks coach says John Mateer is calmer in 2026

The Oklahoma Sooners will be relying heavily on starting quarterback John Mateer being better this year than he was last year. It's been a talking point of the entire offseason, and with the games still a month away, there's still just a bit longer to go to see how much he's improved since December.

One coach who knows him very well has noticed a slight change in his demeanor from last year to this year. John Kuceyeski, who is Oklahoma's quarterbacks coach, has been working with offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle since their days at Western Kentucky in 2022. When Arbuckle moved to Washington State, Kuceyeski came with him. That's where the duo linked up with Mateer, who was the backup in 2023 before a breakout season as the starter in 2024.