As John Mateer returns from injury and the offensive line seeks stability, the Sooners must solve lingering depth and discipline hurdles to secure a national championship run
Training camp is almost here, and Oklahoma football is in a good spot after last year’s 10-win season and playoff appearance. Still, there are some big questions that need answers once the pads come on. Here are the five biggest ones on my mind.
1. Is healthy John Mateer an even better version of the guy who was leading the Heisman race early last year?
This is the biggest question of all. Mateer looked like one of the best quarterbacks in the country before the thumb injury. He’s put on muscle this offseason, says he’s fully healthy, and has been working hard on his footwork and decision-making. If he’s that same aggressive, playmaking version of himself — or even better — then the sky is the limit for this team. A healthy, confident Mateer makes Oklahoma a real national championship contender. If he’s not quite there, the ceiling drops a little.
2. Who steps up as Mateer’s No. 2 target behind Isaiah Sategna III?
Sategna is the clear No. 1. After that, there’s a logjam of options: Trell Harris, Parker Livingstone, Hayden Hansen, and Rocky Beers. It doesn’t really matter who wins the job as long as someone separates themselves. Having depth is great, but Mateer needs a reliable second option he can trust on third downs and in the red zone. Competition is good, but somebody has to emerge as the go-to guy after Sategna.
3. Is the offensive line fixed, and can they actually run block?
This has been the biggest issue for a couple of years. There’s reason for optimism with Michael Fasusi and Eddy Pierre-Louis developing, and the group is another year older. But the run game with Xavier Robinson and Tory Blaylock will only go as far as the offensive line takes them. If they can create lanes and keep Mateer upright, this offense has a chance to be balanced and dangerous. If the line still struggles, everything else gets harder.
4. How will the Sooners use Cole Sullivan with Owen Heinecke back?
Sullivan stepped up and took the green dot while Heinecke was exploring the NFL Draft, and he had a really strong spring. Heinecke is back and will likely reclaim his starting role, but that doesn’t mean Sullivan should be forgotten. He’s a talented guy who had a good tenure at Michigan and proved himself here. Finding a meaningful role for both of them — whether it’s a rotation, different packages, or special teams — could make the linebacker corps even stronger.
5. Has Brent Venables fully grown into the head coaching job?
The first couple of years Venables was still learning how to be a head coach instead of just a coordinator. Clock management and in-game decisions were growing pains. Last year was a big step forward with him focusing on the defense while Ben Arbuckle handled the offense. The one area that still needs work is discipline. Venables is an emotional coach, and sometimes that emotion spills over to the players. Personal fouls and loss of composure can’t keep happening. He has to teach this team how to play with emotion without letting it hurt them.
These five questions will go a long way in determining how good this team can be in 2026. The talent is there, the defense should be elite, and the pieces are in place. Now it’s about answering the remaining questions once training camp starts.
