Texas quarterback Arch Manning will enter the 2025 season as one of the favorites, if not the favorite, for the Heisman Trophy.
He may not even end up being the best quarterback in the SEC.
Oklahoma’s new signal-caller, John Mateer, is ranked as one of the top five quarterbacks in the country and the No. 1 transfer-portal recruit. His sophomore season in 2024 at Washington State, Mateer threw for 29 touchdowns and ran for 15 more, leading the nation in total scores. At least one SEC media personality thinks he’ll top Manning in the former again, too.
“My bold prediction,” SEC Mike, otherwise known as Michael Bratton, said on his podcast. “John Mateer scores more touchdowns than Arch Manning. How about it? I mean, c’mon, is that even a bold prediction?”
It isn’t that bold, frankly. Mateer has more weapons in Norman than he did in Pullman, Washington, with the Cougars last year. He’s also getting to work another year with offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle, who actually left the Paloose for OU first. Arbuckle was a big reason the Sooners ended up landing Mateer out of the transfer portal over the winter. Oklahoma also picked up former first-team All-Pac 12 running back Jadyn Ott to keep teams from selling out against Mateer’s arm.
Still, Mateer doesn’t find himself on many preseason top 10 lists for Heisman favorites like Manning does. The Texas quarterback is the top choice in June, according to DraftKings’ list. Manning played significantly in just three games for the Longhorns last year, serving mostly as a backup to Quinn Ewers.
Oklahoma and Texas will meet in the annual Red River Rivalry in Dallas on October 11.
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Publish date : 2025-06-30 22:00:00
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