On a recent episode of his podcast, The Joel Klatt Show, the former Colorado quarterback released his list of the top 10 quarterbacks heading into the 2025 college football season. Perhaps surprisingly, he ranked Oklahoma’s John Mateer at No. 3—trailing only Clemson’s returning starter Cade Klubnik and Texas’s new quarterback, Arch Manning.
Klatt’s endorsement of Mateer highlights his belief that Oklahoma is poised for a rebound under head coach Brent Venables. One key factor in that belief is the addition of Mateer, a transfer from Washington State, and the hiring of new offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle—who previously coached Mateer in Pullman and played a major role in his success there.
Earlier this month, Klatt also released his early top 25 college football rankings for 2025, placing Oklahoma at No. 25 overall.
Though Mateer may not have the national recognition of the other top quarterbacks on Klatt’s list, his production last season speaks volumes. At Washington State, he threw for 3,139 yards and added 826 yards rushing. His 3,965 total yards ranked fourth among FBS players, and his 44 total touchdowns led the nation.
Klatt praised Mateer’s dual-threat ability: “He’s got a strong arm and he can run. He was the only quarterback last season to average over 250 passing yards and 50 rushing yards per game.”
As expectations grow around Mateer’s arrival in Norman, the pressure is clearly mounting—but head coach Brent Venables believes he’s up to the challenge. Speaking in March, Venables described Mateer as mature, focused, and tough-minded.
“He’s blended in quickly and earned the respect of his teammates,” Venables said. “He’s all about the work, and he brings a competitive edge and maturity that’s rare. He’s driven by the process.”
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