Overview

• During ABC’s pregame switch to the Cotton Bowl before Oklahoma–Texas, cameras showed John Mateer warming up for his first game since hand surgery.
• On air, McFarland said, “That’s a thumb and a hand I would be looking to step on,” referencing the quarterback’s right hand.
• Broadcast notes said Mateer had surgery on September 24 and was returning just 17 days later, a speedy comeback highlighted in the lead-up coverage.
• Outlets including Awful Announcing and Larry Brown Sports criticized the line as encouraging purposeful harm to a college player.
• As of the reports cited, no apology or disciplinary response from ESPN or ABC had been reported.