The Oklahoma Sooners fell in the first round of the College Football Playoff on Friday night. The University of Oregon was defeated 34-24 by the Alabama Crimson Tide, who avenged their regular season loss in Week 12 as Bama headed to the Rose Bowl to face Indiana.
The loss ends Norman’s 2025 season and ends starting quarterback John Mateer’s first season with the Sooners. The Washington State transfer hasn’t quite lived up to the lofty expectations that were placed on him when he and offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle left the Cougars for Oklahoma State, but he’s a part of an offense that’s much improved from where he was in 2024.
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After Friday’s loss, Martel reflected on his first season at Oklahoma State. The man who called the signal is a redshirt junior who still has one season of college eligibility left if he chooses to use it. Understandably, Martel said he hasn’t given much thought to the decision to stay in school or turn pro, instead choosing to reflect on the 2025 season.
“I love these guys,” Martel said. “We all hate that it’s over. That’s all I’m really thinking about right now. I wish we could have one more day together… We do a lot of things that people don’t expect. It’s just because we have a group of people.”
Martial, who caught 26 of 41 passes with a touchdown, one interception and a score on the ground in the season finale, also spoke candidly about what he’s learned in his first season as Oklahoma State’s starting quarterback.
“I think I learned a lot about God and Jesus and I learned to fight back and have courage and know what’s really important,” Martel said. “Because you hear a lot. There are a lot of people in my position who have a lot to say… There are a few things in this building that matter. What those people (in the building) say about me matters. I just appreciate everyone who has supported me and know that people are the most precious commodity and the hardest to come by.”
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It’s been a difficult season in some ways for Martel, who had to undergo midseason thumb surgery after a win at Auburn. He recovered quickly, but his performance for the remainder of the season was hampered by the injury. After Wazzu’s mostly Mountain West schedule, his first tough matchup with the SEC wasn’t always pretty for Mateer, but he persevered and still produced some big moments.
Now that the Sooners offseason has arrived, Martel will be weighing his options, and if he decides to forgo the NFL Draft, Arbuckle and head coach Brent Venables will likely welcome him back as QB1. It’s unclear what Martel will decide to do, but he’s grateful for the opportunity he’s been given this year with the Sooners.
“It means a lot,” Martel said. “I think sometimes I sit down and still see the logo on my chest or my head, and it scares me a little bit. Oklahoma State vs. Alabama, I just played in that game. It’s all by the grace of God and I’m grateful for where I am now and how it all worked out, even though it didn’t work out the way we wanted it to and that it ended.”
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This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Sooners’ John Mateer experiences highs and lows in 2025 season
