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Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
OU football lands Bowe Bentley, beats LSU for 4-star QB in Sooners' 2026 recruiting class
NORMAN — Offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle found his 2026 quarterback. Four-star Bowe Bentley, the No. 10 quarterback in the 2026 class, announced his commitment to Oklahoma over LSU Friday evening. Advertisement Bentley is the No. 94 overall recruit in the 2026 recruiting class, according to 247Sports' Composite ranking. A 6-foot-2, 200-pound rising senior from Celina, Texas, Bentley previously stood as the cycle's third-ranked uncommitted quarterback. After gaining interest from a plethora of Power 4 programs, Bentley narrowed his finalists to LSU and OU in May before taking official trips to see each program in the following weeks. A dynamic dual-threat with 4,200 total yards and 63 touchdowns as a junior at Celina High School, Bentley joins the Sooners as the top-ranked member of the program's 2026 class. Bentley's commitment comes less than 24 hours after the No. 14-ranked 2026 quarterback Jaden O'Neal decommitted from OU. Shortly after hiring Arbuckle this offseason, the Sooners offered Bentley while O'Neal was committed. Bentley took two unofficial visits to Norman — one in February and another in March — before officially visiting earlier this month. Advertisement Bentley visited Florida State, Georgia and Ohio State in March before zeroing in on LSU and OU. Bentley, who led Celina to a 16-0 record and state championship as a junior, becomes the Sooners' potential quarterback for the future after current starting quarterback John Mateer's tenure. Arbuckle and OU previously signed three-star quarterback Jett Niu in the 2025 cycle and welcomed transfers Whitt Newbauer (Mercer) and Gavin Frakes (Virginia). More: Why OU athletic director Joe Castiglione feels Sooners are prepared for House settlement Colton Sulley covers the Oklahoma Sooners for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Colton? He can be reached at csulley@ or on X/Twitter at @colton_sulley. Support Colton's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OU football lands QB Bowe Bentley over LSU in 2026 recruiting class
USA Today
6 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Oklahoma Sooners a sleeper national title contender
Oklahoma Sooners a sleeper national title contender The Oklahoma Sooners are one of the more popular teams in the nation to see an improvement from their 6-7 record in 2024. Though the opponents are the same, and Oklahoma has one of the five toughest schedules in college football, experts are high on what Brent Venables has done this offseason. Though there's optimism the Sooners will rebound from their disappointing season in 2024, the Sooners still have a lot to prove. USA TODAY Sports Blake Toppemeyer believes Oklahoma could be one of the sleeper teams to contend for the national title. The odds are long at +6600, according to BetMGM, but the changes they've made could reap huge rewards. More: SEC teams ranked from worst to first in odds of winning the national title Oklahoma's roster looks substantially better on the heels of a losing season that sparked Brent Venables to bring in quarterback John Mateer from Washington State. Mateer's offensive coordinator, Ben Arbuckle, followed the quarterback to Norman to run Oklahoma's offense. Win-win. Another win: Landing standout running back Jadyn Ott, a California transfer. Oklahoma returned a lot of production, and it surely can't be as injury plagued as last season. That leaves the manhole, though, of arguably the nation's most daunting schedule, which could swallow even an improved Sooners team. - Toppemeyer, USA TODAY Sports For years, Oklahoma had some of the best offenses in college football but were held back by their defense. Last year, it was the other way around. If Oklahoma wants to contend in the SEC and secure a College Football Playoff berth, everything has to come together this year. The defense must be as good or better than it was last year, and the offense must return to what is expected at Oklahoma. And as important as all of that, the Sooners need some good fortune on the injury front. Brent Venables, Ben Arbuckle, and Jim Nagy made significant additions on both sides of the ball to give the Sooners a boost. But it's the offensive improvement that drives the optimism with Oklahoma. If John Mateer, an improved offensive line, and Jaydn Ott can find a rhythm early in the season, the Sooners will be tough to beat and a surprise contender in 2025. Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow John on X @john9williams.
USA Today
09-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Texas Longhorns opponents on 2025 schedule ranked by ESPN FPI
Texas Longhorns opponents on 2025 schedule ranked by ESPN FPI ESPN has released its FPI rankings for 2025. How do the super computers in Bristol, CT rank the 12 teams on the Texas Longhorns schedule? According to ESPN, the Football Power Index (FPI) "is a predictive rating system that estimates each FBS team's strength (in points per game relative to the national average) on offense, defense and special teams, making adjustments for starters lost, recruiting talent and other personnel changes. Those numbers are then plugged into the schedule, and everything is simulated 20,000 times to track each team's odds of winning its conference, making the playoff and advancing through to the national title." After the 20,000 simulations, the Longhorns are the No. 1 team in the nation. Texas has the top FPI rating at 28.5. ESPN gives the Longhorns an 8.9% chance of going undefeated with a projected record of 10.4-2.1. UT has a 34.1% to win the SEC, an 83.9% chance of making the 12-team college football playoff, an astounding 37.7% chance to make the national title game and a 24.1% chance to win it all. Here's how Texas' 2025 opponents rank: FPI Rating : 26.6 (No. 2) : 26.6 (No. 2) Projected W/L : 10.1-2.3 : 10.1-2.3 Playoff chances : 78.6% : 78.6% Make national title chances : 30% : 30% Win national title chances: 17.9% Comment: The fact Texas must face the No. 2 team on the FPI makes the Georgia game even tougher. 2. Ohio State Buckeyes (Aug. 30) FPI Rating : 23.8 (No. 4) : 23.8 (No. 4) Projected W/L : 10.4-2.2 : 10.4-2.2 Playoff chances : 70.6% : 70.6% Make national title chances : 21.3% : 21.3% Win national title chances: 10.8% Comment: The Buckeyes are the fourth highest ranked team and another tough road test for the Horns. FPI Rating : 17.9 (No. 8) : 17.9 (No. 8) Projected W/L : 8.1-4.1 : 8.1-4.1 Playoff chances : 34.3% : 34.3% Make national title chances : 5.5% : 5.5% Win national title chances: 2.3% Comment: The numbers really drop off once you get to past the Top 10. The Aggies only have a 34% chance of making the playoff. 4. Oklahoma Sooners (Oct. 11) FPI Rating : 14.6 (No. 16) : 14.6 (No. 16) Projected W/L : 6.9-5.1 : 6.9-5.1 Playoff chances : 18.4% : 18.4% Make national title chances : 2.2% : 2.2% Win national title chances: 0.8% Comment: OU has a new QB in John Mateer but ESPN's algorithm projects the Sooners a long way from winning a title. FPI Rating : 14.3 (No. 18) : 14.3 (No. 18) Projected W/L : 6.4-5.6 : 6.4-5.6 Playoff chances : 14.5% : 14.5% Make national title chances : 1.6% : 1.6% Win national title chances: 0.7% Comment: Florida should be better than last year. Texas will play the Gators in the Swamp to open SEC play. FPI Rating : 7.6 (No. 22) : 7.6 (No. 22) Projected W/L : 6.1-5.9 : 6.1-5.9 Playoff chances : 8.2% : 8.2% Make national title chances : 0.7% : 0.7% Win national title chances: 0.3% Comment: The Razorbacks come to Austin for the first time in over 20 years. FPI Rating : 10.8 (No. 34) : 10.8 (No. 34) Projected W/L : 5.6-6.4 : 5.6-6.4 Playoff chances : 3.3% : 3.3% Make national title chances : 0.1% : 0.1% Win national title chances: 0.0% Comment: The Wildcats are the first team on this list projected to have a losing record. 8. Mississippi State Bulldogs (Oct. 25) FPI Rating : 3.8 (No. 52) : 3.8 (No. 52) Projected W/L : 4.4-7.6 : 4.4-7.6 Playoff chances : 0.7% : 0.7% Make national title chances : 0.0% : 0.0% Win national title chances: 0.0% Comment: The Bulldogs might be slightly better in 2025, but Hail State will still be one of the worst teams in the SEC. 9. Vanderbilt Commodores (Nov. 1) FPI Rating : 3.4 (No. 56) : 3.4 (No. 56) Projected W/L : 3.2-8.8 : 3.2-8.8 Playoff chances : 0.9% : 0.9% Make national title chances : 0.0% : 0.0% Win national title chances: 0.0% Comment: Vanderbilt gave Texas a very tough game last year in Nashville. This year the Commodores travel to DKR. 10. San Jose State Spartans (Sept. 6) FPI Rating : -6.9 (No. 93) : -6.9 (No. 93) Projected W/L : 3.2-8.8 : 3.2-8.8 Playoff chances : 0.0% : 0.0% Make national title chances : 0.0% : 0.0% Win national title chances: 0.0% Comment: The Spartans are the best of the cupcakes on the schedule. 11. Sam Houston Bearkats (Sept. 20) FPI Rating : -10.7 (No. 111) : -10.7 (No. 111) Projected W/L : 5.2-7.0 : 5.2-7.0 Playoff chances : 0.4% : 0.4% Make national title chances : 0.0% : 0.0% Win national title chances: 0.0% Comment: Former Wisconsin offensive coordinator Phil Longo takes over the Bearkats still struggling to find their footing in FBS. 12. UTEP Miners (Sept. 13) FPI Rating : -15.6 (No. 130) : -15.6 (No. 130) Projected W/L : 4.9-7.2 : 4.9-7.2 Playoff chances : 0.1% : 0.1% Make national title chances : 0.0% : 0.0% Win national title chances: 0.0% Comment: UTEP is ranked as one of the worst teams in FBS by ESPN's computers.
USA Today
09-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Josh Pate isn't sleeping on Oklahoma's John Mateer
Josh Pate isn't sleeping on Oklahoma's John Mateer The Oklahoma Sooners made a major upgrade at starting quarterback this winter. With former starter Jackson Arnold off to play for the Auburn Tigers, OU had a hole to fill under center. Not only did they fill it, they did so with a player, John Mateer, who is better than any QB the Sooners had on the roster a year ago. In fact, Mateer was the transfer portal's top overall player this year. Oklahoma beat out Miami and North Carolina to land the former Washington State star. After OU was atrocious offensively in 2024, Mateer's arrival gives the Sooners a chance to rebound back to their winning ways in 2025. At least that's what Josh Pate, the host of "Josh Pate's College Football Show", thinks. Because of familiarity with his play-caller and the help of players from multiple top-ten recruiting classes over the past few years, he has Mateer right alongside the best quarterbacks in the entire SEC. "I'm putting John Mateer in the top five," Pate said. "If I'm right, Oklahoma's gonna be a contender in the SEC. I believe in the OC-quarterback approach, bringing both of them in, not just one of them, especially when they're both qualified, and Ben Arbuckle and John Mateer are. I also think it greatly helps that John Mateer is not being brought into Norman, Oklahoma, and then being looked at by everyone down on their knees with their hands clasped praying, 'Please save us John, save us.' No, you don't need to save anyone. You need to go in there and play solid football and execute, make good decisions, because you know what you've got around you? You've got a top-ten roster around you. You've got a really good defense. You don't have to score 42 a game to win, and you've got guys calling plays for you that you're very familiar with. I think he's gonna be really good this year. That's why I've got Oklahoma top ten in the preseason." Sooner Nation has long clamored for complementary football in Norman. For years, OU fans had to watch incredible offenses, led by Heisman Trophy-level quarterbacks, be ultimately let down by bad defenses. The trio of Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray and Jalen Hurts combined for four College Football Playoff appearances in five seasons from 2015 to 2019, and it was the inability to get stops on defense that, for the most part, sunk those excellent Oklahoma teams in the semifinal round each time. When Brent Venables took over for Lincoln Riley, the hope was that he could change that. In the years since, Venables has built up a defense that looks like it can compete in the SEC. But, just as the defense was getting really good in 2024, Oklahoma's offense fell off a cliff with Seth Littrell and Jackson Arnold at the helm. Complementary football eluded OU yet again. With plenty of returning starters, the Oklahoma defense looks like it has the pieces to be good again. On the other side of the ball, the Arbuckle-Mateer combination hopes to finally bring high-level play on both offense and defense, at the same time, to Norman in 2025. Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Aaron on X @Aaron_Gelvin.
USA Today
12-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
What ESPN expects from Oklahoma QB John Mateer in 2025
What ESPN expects from Oklahoma QB John Mateer in 2025 The Oklahoma Sooners made the biggest splash of the offseason when they brought in John Mateer in December. The nation's leader in total touchdowns had a strong first season as a starter at Washington State and followed offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle to Norman. The two should help Oklahoma's offense be much better in 2025 than they were a year ago and for the Oklahoma Sooners to contend for a playoff spot, the offense will have to be respectable. During SEC play a season ago, the Sooners offense averaged just 13 points per game when you remove defensive touchdowns. That didn't cut it by a long shot and Oklahoma made necessary changes to rectify the situation. But what can we expect from Mateer in a Sooners uniform? ESPN's Billy Tucker picked the top newcomer for each team in ESPN's top 25 and what we should expect this season. Mateer will light up SEC scoreboards in 2025 and Oklahoma should bounce back. With weapons around him at wide receiver and a healthy Jaydn Ott to relieve some early-down pressure in the backfield, the offense should come out of the gate fast, particularly with Mateer's confidence and familiarity with the system. He's a quick-release rhythm passer who will spread the ball out decisively and accurately underneath and win on his strikes downfield. Mateer can run, too, which will complement this version of the Air Raid pass-heavy offense. The Sooners have much more depth up front to keep him upright, but Mateer will show more natural playmaking ability to extend plays and get out of trouble than Arnold did a season ago. - Tucker, ESPN The Oklahoma Sooners offense will be really good this season. How good? That will depend a lot on the offensive line, a unit that had arguably its worst season in the Bill Bedenbaugh era due to injuries and inexperience. But having an experienced signal caller in an offense he's familiar with will help everyone from the offensive line to the wide receivers to the running backs. If Mateer can even produce 75% of his 40 total touchdowns from a season ago, that would put him among the SEC leaders from 2024. Jalen Milroe led the SEC in total touchdowns last season with 36 (including 20 rushing touchdowns). With the additions the Sooners made on offense and the continued development of Brent Venables' defense, Mateer doesn't have to have a super human Heisman season for the Sooners to significantly improve their win total. He and the offense simply have to compliment what Oklahoma's going to do on the defensive side of the ball. However, with Mateer, Oklahoma has a chance to have one of the best offenses in college football in 2025. Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow John on X @john9williams.
