Overview

• Mateer was removed from Oklahoma’s final SEC availability report and then took the field to open the game against Texas, confirming his availability.
• He fractured a bone in his throwing hand on Sept. 20 at Auburn and announced surgery on Sept. 25, returning well ahead of initial one‑month projections.
• The junior missed only the Week 6 rout of Kent State, when Michael Hawkins Jr. started and the Sooners won 44–0.
• Before the injury, Mateer had completed 95 of 141 passes for 1,215 yards and six touchdowns with 190 rushing yards and five scores, fueling Heisman and NFL draft buzz.
• Coaches kept plans close to the vest as Brent Venables signaled caution and Steve Sarkisian prepared for Mateer, while betting markets slightly favored Texas with uncertainty tracked by national reporters.