Latest News on John Mateer's Hand Injury Rehab Ahead of OU vs. Alabama in CFP Bracket

Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables offered an update on John Mateer's surgically-repaired right hand Wednesday, saying the quarterback was able to practice without a wrap on it ahead of Friday's matchup against Alabama in the first round of the College Football Playoff.

"He still has some soreness," he told reporters. "He's not pain-free. From a stability standpoint, I think he's better than he's been, gripping the ball and things like that."

Mateer, a junior, got off to a hot start in the 2025 season, throwing for 1,215 yards, six touchdowns and three interceptions during Oklahoma's 4-0 start. But he broke a bone in his right hand during a 24-17 win over Auburn on Sept. 20 and required surgery.

Oklahoma had a bye week following the Auburn victory and Mateer missed an Oct. 4 victory over Kent State. But he returned a week later for a matchup against Texas, just 17 days after his surgery.

Oklahoma lost that game, 23-6, and two weeks later lost to Ole Miss as well, putting their CFP hopes in jeopardy. Mateer struggled in particular against the Longhorns, throwing three interceptions.

But he led the Sooners to a four-game winning streak to close the 2025 season, knocking off the gauntlet of Tennessee, Alabama, Missouri and LSU. He threw for 788 yards, five touchdowns and four interceptions during that stretch.

It hasn't always been pretty from the junior, with his hand injury undoubtedly playing a part. But he believes the best is yet to come for himself and the Sooners.

"It's been a lot of self-scout," he told reporters this week about the team's preparations ahead of the Alabama rematch. "A lot of looking at stuff we were good at, stuff that we struggled at, stuff that other teams know, if there's any tips or anything. Just getting better every day. I think [Venables] puts it in the right light, like, we're always on a rise. ... People can say, 'Oh, it hasn't clicked in 14 weeks, it's not going to [now].' Whatever. It's one day at a time, you get better, and you get better with the people around you."