https://247sports.com/college/oklahoma/article/john-mateer-weighing-options-before-deciding-2026-plans-267223821/
NORMAN — Less than two hours after his first season at Oklahoma ended in the first round of the College Football Playoff, John Mateer was uncertain about what the future held.
The Sooners' starting quarterback said late Friday night that he does not yet know what his plans are for next season. The redshirt junior has a year of eligibility remaining and could return to Oklahoma for a second season, or he could declare for the NFL Draft in what's shaping up to be a potentially thin quarterback class.
"I really haven't thought about it yet," Mateer said after Oklahoma's 34-24 loss to Alabama. "I'm pretty sure I'll take some time and weigh all the options, and we'll see."
According to ESPN NFL Draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr., Mateer is the No. 4 quarterback in the 2026 NFL Draft class, if he chooses to declare. Kiper has Mateer ranked behind Oregon's Dante Moore, Indiana's Fernando Mendoza (the reigning Heisman Trophy winner) and Alabama's Ty Simpson. Like Mateer, both Moore and Simpson have eligibility remaining and have not announced any intentions one way or another (both Alabama and Oregon are still competing in the College Football Playoff).
Underclassmen have until Jan. 14 to declare for the 2026 NFL Draft, so Mateer has 3 ½ weeks before he needs to make a decision on his future—though it would likely come sooner than that if he were to declare, since the transfer portal opens Jan. 2, and Oklahoma would likely need to explore available options if Mateer turns pro.