'Bring it': John Mateer responds to questions about facing SEC competition

Following a huge 2024 season at Washington State, John Mateer is taking his talents to the SEC. The new Oklahoma quarterback generated plenty of buzz at media days on Wednesday, and he heard the questions about the step up in competition.

Mateer flourished at Wazzu a year ago under offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle, who will remain his OC in Norman this season after joining Brent Venables’ staff. He threw for 3,139 yards and 39 touchdowns while adding 826 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns.

Mateer put up those numbers against a schedule which ranked 105th in the nation, according to ESPN’s FPI. Now heading to the SEC, he knows the challenge that lies ahead. He’s ready, though.

"What's he going to do against the @SEC?"@OU_Football QB @John_Mateer4 has heard the question that's on everyone's mind at #SECMD25 and he's ready to answer.@DustyDvoracek | @ChrisDoering | @JacobHester18#OUDNA #BoomerSooner pic.twitter.com/FGDOpNZXVD

— College Sports on SiriusXM (@SXMCollege) July 16, 2025

“I would say, we’re working as hard as we can to do everything we can and there’s no ceiling to what we think we can do, what we plan on doing,” Mateer told SiriusXM College Sports Radio. “I’m excited for the challenge. It’s a challenge. Everybody knows it. How else are you going to get better? You’ve got to be challenged.

“Week-in and week-out, you get to do it. You don’t have to do it – you get to do it. Not everybody gets to do it. We’ve got the hardest schedule. Come on, bring it. It’s gonna be fun. I’m really excited. We all are.”

John Mateer’s arrival came with plenty of fanfare as one of the biggest splashes in the transfer portal this cycle. He was the No. 3 overall transfer this cycle, according to the On3 Industry Transfer Rankings, trailing only fellow quarterbacks Carson Beck and Nico Iamaleava. With Arbuckle also heading to Norman, he won’t need to learn a new scheme as he heads to a new school.

Of course, Oklahoma wasn’t the only program in the running for Mateer’s services. Schools such as North Carolina and Miami also pursued him. However, he ultimately chose OU – and while it wasn’t the only factor in his decision, the familiarity with Arbuckle helped.

“There was a lot that went into it but also I know [Ben Arbuckle],” Mateer said. “It’s closer to home, you could say. I want my family to be closer, be able to get to the games because they couldn’t get to a lot of games in Pullman. But it’s also the SEC. I’m here on SEC Media Day, who doesn’t want to play in the SEC?

“Being with [Arbuckle], the same offense. They know me, I know them and they know what I need to play at the highest level and it’s the SEC. It’s Oklahoma. Who doesn’t want to play for Oklahoma?”