Cam Ward electrified Miami last season, turning in a Heisman finalist campaign, rewriting Hurricanes record books, and becoming the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft. That kind of stardom left Miami eager to find lightning in a bottle again. So when Washington State transfer John Mateer hit the portal, the Hurricanes went all in.
Mateer, who backed up Ward in Pullman before breaking out in 2024 with 3,965 total yards and 44 touchdowns, had the production and play style to make him one of the most coveted quarterbacks on the market. Miami didn’t hold back in their pursuit.
“My god, they did,” Mateer told CBS Sports’ Chris Hummer. “Yeah, they fuc----- did.”
But even with Miami pushing hard, Mateer never seriously considered following Ward to Coral Gables. Despite their friendship, Mateer wanted to create something of his own — not copy the blueprint of a former teammate.
“I didn't want to go to the same place he did (and then the) same place he did,” Mateer said. “They could offer me a lot, but I couldn't have gone just because of that."
That opened the door for Oklahoma — and they made sure to keep it open.
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The Sooners landed Mateer with what CBS Sports called a “record-setting” NIL deal valued around $3 million. But just as important was Oklahoma’s hire of Mateer’s former offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle, who left Washington State for the same role in Norman.
“Same offensive coordinator, close to home,” Mateer said. “It all came together really well. It was a no-brainer.”
Mateer also had a visit scheduled with Bill Belichick at North Carolina, but called it off once Oklahoma sealed the deal. He referred to the Tar Heels option as a “you never know what’s going to happen” backup plan.
Now, Mateer arrives at a pivotal time for Oklahoma. The Sooners finished 97th nationally in scoring in 2024 and head coach Brent Venables is facing mounting pressure entering Year 4. Analysts have pointed to Mateer as a potential breakout star — even drawing comparisons to Ward’s rise in Miami.
The money was there. The spotlight was waiting. But for John Mateer, it was never about duplicating someone else’s story — it was about writing his own.