John Mateer’s transfer to Oklahoma was supposed to write a redemption story. Instead, the Sooners quarterback finds himself caught between rising Heisman Trophy expectations and a brewing controversy over alleged gambling activities. The redshirt-junior transfer has captured national attention both for his explosive on-field potential and troubling social media revelations that surfaced this week.
What Do the Venmo Screenshots Mean for John Mateer’s Future?
Screenshots allegedly showing Mateer’s Venmo account began circulating on social media Monday night, revealing two payments with “sports gambling” in the memo line. While Mateer hasn’t confirmed the account belongs to him, the timing couldn’t be worse for a player entering his first season in college football’s most scrutinized conference.
Oklahoma acknowledged it is “aware” of the situation, though the university has provided no additional details about potential investigations. The allegations stem from Mateer’s time at Washington State, where he spent three seasons before following offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle to Norman.
Oklahoma QB John Mateer has scrubbed his Venmo account after fans found screenshots showing he allegedly engaged in sports betting while at Washington State.
Should Sooner fans be worried about their QB1? pic.twitter.com/F9LLIt5I5z
— SEC Unfiltered (@SECUnfiltered) August 12, 2025
The controversy threatens to overshadow what should have been a celebration of Mateer’s arrival in the SEC. His transfer brought immediate excitement to a program desperately seeking stability at quarterback after years of inconsistent play.
Why Is Josh Pate So High on John Mateer’s Heisman Chances?
Despite the off-field noise, prominent analyst Josh Pate has positioned Mateer among his top quarterback picks for the 2025-26 season. While Pate selected Florida’s DJ Lagway as his No. 1 choice, he immediately followed with Mateer as a close second.
“I’m going to tell you who’s close behind (Lagway), though, that many, many more people are sleeping on, is John Mateer at Oklahoma. I’ve bought all the John Mateer stock. I’ve got a John Mateer Heisman Trophy ticket in my back pocket. I couldn’t be higher on him,” Pate said.
Pate’s endorsement carries serious weight in college football circles, particularly when he addressed criticism of Mateer’s throwing mechanics. The analyst believes skeptics fundamentally misunderstand what makes the quarterback special.
“There are people out there who question his mechanics who have not the slightest clue about quarterback mechanics or throwing mechanics. You want to see a sidearm throw, you want to see different arm angles, watch him on the run. Watch him throw the ball on the run,” he explained.
He continued: “Watch the accuracy mid-range, downfield,” adding that Mateer’s “improbability is elite.” The dual-threat ability that defined Mateer’s success at Washington State forms the foundation of Pate’s confidence. Mateer ran for 826 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2024, showcasing the mobility that separates him from traditional pocket passers.
How Will Mateer’s Skillset Translate to SEC Competition?
Pate believes Mateer’s unique abilities will create problems for SEC defenses rather than the conference exposing his weaknesses. The analyst sees opportunity where others see risk.
“As much as people think he’s got to adjust to the SEC, and as much as people think, ‘Oh, John Mateer going to really level up the quality of competition this year.’ He is. I’m telling you I don’t have an issue with it. Quite the opposite: I think the league’s going to have an issue with him this year. John Mateer is going to be good.”
Pate placed Mateer alongside other top quarterbacks in his rankings, including Clemson’s Cade Klubnik and South Carolina’s Lanorris Sellers, but he emphasized that Mateer belongs in the conversation for the sport’s most prestigious award.
“In an ocean of unproven QBs this year, I get proven production if I go with [Cade] Klubnik… but I couldn’t be higher on John Mateer,” he said.
The endorsement positions Mateer as a legitimate Heisman contender despite the uncertainty surrounding his off-field situation. Whether the gambling allegations derail that momentum remains the biggest question facing Oklahoma’s offense heading into the 2025-26 campaign.