ESPN's Kirk Herbstreit and Joey Galloway predict the quarterback will return, citing home comfort, health, and a potential Heisman resurgence
In the wake of Oklahoma's heartbreaking 34-24 loss to Alabama in the first round of the College Football Playoff on December 19, 2025, quarterback John Mateer's future has become a hot topic.
The redshirt junior, who transferred from Washington State ahead of the 2025 season, delivered an up-and-down performance in his playoff debut but showed flashes of the dynamic playmaking that made him a Heisman dark horse early in the year.
ESPN's prominent College Football analysts, Kirk Herbstreit and Joey Galloway, have both publicly advocated for Mateer to return to Norman for one more season rather than entering the transfer portal or declaring for the 2026 NFL Draft.
Herbstreit, the longtime voice of College GameDay, expressed strong confidence that Mateer will "run it back" with the Sooners.
Emphasizing the concept of "unfinished business," Herbstreit highlighted Mateer's connection to the program.
"Why would he leave a place that’s become home? I guess if someone paid him," Herbstreit said during a recent Nonstop podcast.
"My guess is, he’s going back to OU."
Herbstreit's optimism stems from Mateer's rapid adjustment to Oklahoma after following offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle from Washington State.
Despite a mid-season hand injury that sidelined him briefly and impacted his performance upon return, Mateer helped guide the Sooners to a 10-3 record and a playoff berth in their tough SEC schedule.
Joey Galloway, Herbstreit's podcast co-host and a former NFL wide receiver, echoed similar sentiments, pointing to Mateer's early-season dominance and the potential for a rebound in 2026.
"That would be my guess and my suggestion (would be) that OU is a good place to go back to," Galloway stated. "I think that he needs to get healthy. I hope he gets back to the John Mateer we’ve seen early on the season for Oklahoma, but I would imagine he’s going to be back."
Galloway referenced the Heisman hype Mateer garnered in September, before undergoing hand surgery following an injury against Auburn.
Statistically, Mateer's numbers dipped post-injury—he completed 62.1% of his passes for 2,578 yards, 12 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions across the season—but Galloway believes a full offseason to recover and refine could significantly elevate his draft stock for 2027.
Mateer himself remained non-committal immediately after the Alabama loss, focusing on the emotional end to the season.
“I haven’t really thought about it yet,” Mateer told reporters. “I’m pretty sure I’ll take some time and weigh all the options and we’ll see.”
As a redshirt junior, Mateer has one year of eligibility remaining.
The decision is complicated by the modern College Football landscape: the NCAA transfer portal opens January 2, 2026, and runs for 15 days until January 16.
For the NFL Draft, underclassmen must declare by early January (typically around January 5-14 for non-playoff participants), with a hard deadline for special eligibility around mid-January.
Despite the options, returning to Oklahoma could make sense.
The Sooners' offense, under Arbuckle, showed promise early on, with Mateer breaking Baker Mayfield's record for passing yards in an OU debut (392 against Illinois State).
A healthy Mateer in 2026 could reclaim Heisman contention and lead Oklahoma deeper into the playoff, especially with a strong supporting cast returning.
Adding to the intrigue, ESPN's senior NFL Draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. slotted Mateer as the No. 4 quarterback prospect in his mid-December 2025 big board for the 2026 class.
The group is headlined by Oregon's Dante Moore (No. 1 overall), Indiana's Fernando Mendoza (No. 2, and the 2025 Heisman winner), and Alabama's Ty Simpson (No. 3).
While this ranking suggests Mateer could hear his name called early if he declares, many scouts believe another year polishing his consistency—particularly post-injury accuracy and decision-making—could push him into the top tier.
If Mateer opts to return, fans won't have to wait long to see him again: Oklahoma opens the 2026 season on September 5 against UTEP in Norman.
In an era where transfers and early NFL entries dominate headlines, Herbstreit and Galloway's advice underscores a rarer narrative—staying put for unfinished business.
For Mateer, the coming weeks will determine if he heeds their call or charts a new path.