August 3, 2026
ESPN's Jordan Rodgers Places Oklahoma QB John Mateer Fifth in Heisman Rankings
The analyst cited Mateer's full recovery and dual-threat ability as reasons Oklahoma's quarterback could finally return the program to Heisman contention.
ESPN analyst Jordan Rodgers named Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer one of his five Heisman Trophy candidates heading into the 2026 season, placing the Sooners signal-caller fifth on his preseason list. Rodgers ranked Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, Texas quarterback Arch Manning, Indiana quarterback Josh Hoover, and Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin ahead of Mateer.
He's gonna be 100% healthy. When he is, he's one of the more dynamic dual-threat quarterbacks in the country ... John Mateer's gonna put up massive numbers.
— Jordan Rodgers, ESPN analyst
A Season Derailed, and a Case for Redemption
The nod from Rodgers comes after a 2025 campaign that started with enormous promise before unraveling. Mateer was considered the frontrunner for the Heisman through the first month of last season, but a broken hand effectively ended his candidacy. He underwent surgery and was unable to place the ball consistently in the weeks that followed, watching his numbers decline as the Sooners' offense lost its early rhythm.
Oklahoma last produced a Heisman finalist in 2019, meaning the program has gone without one throughout the entirety of head coach Brent Venables' tenure. The Sooners boast seven Heisman winners in program history — running backs Billy Vessels (1952), Steve Owens (1969), and Billy Sims (1978), along with quarterbacks Jason White (2003), Sam Bradford (2008), Baker Mayfield (2017), and Kyler Murray (2018) — but the award has eluded Norman for the better part of a decade.
Oklahoma enters the season having added depth at wide receiver and tight end, while the offensive line returns with an additional year of experience. The program's top two running backs from last season are also back, and the coaching staff has signaled an intent to build a more balanced attack rather than leaning solely on Mateer's playmaking ability. That infrastructure, combined with what is again expected to be a stout Venables defense, gives the Sooners a foundation that could allow Mateer to operate efficiently rather than heroically. If he stays healthy and the supporting cast performs, Oklahoma could find itself with its first Heisman finalist since 2019.
