John Mateer commanded the offense, while the run game exploded for multiple touchdowns, as the Sooners' 2026 squad made a powerful, eye-opening statement
NORMAN, Okla. — After a one-year hiatus, the Oklahoma Sooners football team brought back its annual spring game on Saturday, delivering an exciting showcase of talent and depth at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.
In front of a energetic crowd of 31,407 fans, the Red team dominated the White team with a convincing 31-3 victory. The contest marked the first opportunity for Sooner Nation to get a glimpse of the 2026 squad under head coach Brent Venables, and it highlighted several promising storylines heading into the fall.
The Red team, featuring mostly projected starters, controlled the game from the opening drive. Quarterbacked primarily by John Mateer, the Red offense exploded for four touchdowns and a field goal in the first half alone.
The Sooners played a traditional 60-minute game, with standard timing in the first quarter before switching to a running clock for the final three periods to keep the pace moving and give more players opportunities to shine.
Mateer had a solid outing, completing 12 of 19 passes for 192 yards and adding a 3-yard touchdown pass to redshirt sophomore transfer receiver Mackenzie Alleyne for the game's final score. The Sooners' quarterback looked sharp and decisive, showing improved mechanics and decision-making after a focused offseason.
“I’d say it’s close to 100 percent,” Mateer said afterward when asked about his progress. “It definitely feels good — it’s stronger. I think it’s stronger than it was before, just because of the emphasis I put back into it.”
On the ground, junior transfer running back Lloyd Avant led the Red team with 69 rushing yards on 14 carries, including a 3-yard touchdown run on the game's very first drive.
Freshman DeZephen Walker also made his mark, breaking free for a 17-yard touchdown run in which he dragged multiple defenders the final eight yards into the end zone. Walker finished with eight carries for 81 yards, averaging over 10 yards per attempt and showcasing explosive potential with a 37-yard gain on his first carry of the day.
The White team, comprised mostly of reserves, managed just a single score, a 50-yard field goal by redshirt freshman kicker Liam Evans on their second possession.
Freshman Jonathan Hatton Jr. added a 12-yard touchdown run for White, finishing with 26 yards on six carries.
Redshirt sophomore quarterback Whitt Newbauer went 7 of 9 for 69 yards through the air, while freshman Jahsiear Rogers led White receivers with five catches for 70 yards.
Defensively, the Red team forced two interceptions, one each from senior defensive back Peyton Bowen and redshirt junior Casen Calmus. The unit also recorded six tackles for loss, three pass breakups, and three quarterback hurries.
Junior defensive back Michael Boganowski led the Red squad with six tackles, including a sack. Sophomore cornerback Courtland Guillory added five tackles with two for loss, while redshirt sophomore defensive linemen Danny Okoye (two TFLs) and Nigel Smith II (one TFL) contributed four tackles apiece.On the White side, several young defensive backs stood out in tackling.
Sophomore Omarion Robinson, redshirt freshman Trystan Haynes, Barrett Travis, and freshman Niko Jandreau each recorded a game-high seven tackles. Robinson also forced a fumble and broke up a pass, while Haynes added a tackle for loss. Freshman defensive linemen Brian Harris and James Carrington each notched a sack.Special teams played a role as well.
Redshirt senior kicker Tate Sandell, the reigning Lou Groza Award winner, converted his only field goal attempt from 39 yards and went a perfect 4-for-4 on point-after-touchdown tries, helping the Red team build a 17-3 lead early in the second quarter.
Red team tight ends Rocky Beers and Hayden Hansen, both redshirt senior transfers, combined for seven receptions and 99 yards. Beers hauled in four catches for 65 yards, while Hansen added three for 34. Redshirt senior wide receiver Isaiah Sategna III had a highlight-reel 50-yard grab-and-run, and sophomore Manny Choice contributed a 25-yard reception on the opening drive.
Beyond the stats, the spring game provided plenty of optimism for the Sooners' offense.
Head coach Brent Venables expressed excitement about the running back room, noting, “Really proud of that group… we had more explosive runs this spring than we had in the other three springs combined.”
Venables expressed praised for Mateer saying, “John makes things happen. He has a chance to be a fantastic playmaker at that position. I think he’s a guy that threatens a defense and requires numbers in the right spots, whether that’s in coverage or in the run game. I expect him leading the way to a more cohesive, more consistent, more explosive, better-balanced offense.”
Offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle added, “We know the type of offense, the type of unit we want to be, and John fully understands it, too. He goes out and he attacks it, and it's been awesome to watch, because you just see him developing and growing his football IQ even more and himself as a player even more.”
Mateer himself described the spring as “super productive.”
He acknowledged there are still areas to clean up but emphasized the value of the spring game: “There are a lot of things still to clean up, but that's what's so beautiful about this game. Every play, even on the good plays, there's something to do better and that's the biggest thing I've learned.”
Adding to the day's buzz, redshirt senior linebacker Owen Heinecke, fresh from a courthouse victory granting him an extra year of eligibility, was in attendance but did not play. Heinecke had pulled his name from consideration in next week's NFL Draft and will return to the Sooners for the 2026 season, bolstering an already talented linebacker group.
Overall, the 2026 spring game served as a strong indicator of progress for the Oklahoma program. The Red team's balance on offense, physicality on defense, and depth across the roster left fans optimistic. While the White team showed flashes of potential from its younger players, the starters clearly separated themselves.
UP NEXT: The Sooners open the 2026 season on Saturday, Sept. 5, against UTEP at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.
With spring ball now in the books, Venables and his staff will focus on refining the details as they prepare for a highly anticipated fall campaign.