U40: Mateer is out. Hawkins is up. Can the Sooners hold on to a CFP spot?

U40: Mateer is out. Hawkins is up. Can the Sooners hold on to a CFP spot?

Author: SoonerScoop.com September 24, 2025 Duration: 1:43:58
John Mateer is out for at least the next few weeks and the guys are here to tell you how it all went down in the offices yesterday as we worked to track down the news and to share the context of what we have heard and what happens moving forward. It's the bye week. How will the Sooners use it to get better with Hawkins at QB? And the running game still needs a lot of work. Is Kent State the beginning or the end of Jaydn Ott as a productive member of the running back room? The SEC also released future schedules yesterday and no one saw Ole Miss landing as a permanent rival for the Sooners. We break down our thoughts on the schedule. We talk about some of the recruiting storylines coming off another good weekend of visitors and how much of a candidate is Ben Arbuckle going to be for head coaching jobs next season? All that and more on this week's episode of the Unofficial 40. #ad Our listeners get Harry's Trial Set for only $8 + a Free Gift at https://www.Harrys.com/SOONERSCOOP #Harryspod THE FULL RUNDOWN FOLLOWS BELOW 0:00 - Welcome back to the Unofficial 40! John Mateer had surgery today.  10:00 - What’s a realistic timetable for Mateer’s return? Could he really be back by Texas?  18:00 - Regardless of QB, OU has to makes some strides in the run game: RB + OL combined need to play better 29:00 - CB Eli Bowen, WR Javonnie Gibson expected to return  39:00 - Is Ben Arbuckle a serious head coach candidate when the carousel begins?  49:00 - SEC Future Schedules 1:03:00 - Recruiting following Auburn weekend 1:30:00 - CFB Roundtable  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For fans who live and breathe University of Oklahoma athletics, Oklahoma Sooners Unofficial 40 is the essential audio companion. Brought to you by the seasoned team at SoonerScoop.com, this podcast digs into the stories, strategies, and personalities that define OU sports. While Sooners football is a central pillar, the conversation extends across the entire athletic department, offering analysis on basketball, softball, and other programs that carry the crimson and cream banner. The show also provides crucial insight into the future of the teams through dedicated recruiting coverage, tracking the high school prospects who are poised to become the next generation of Sooners legends. Each episode feels like a candid discussion among knowledgeable friends, breaking down game performances, coaching decisions, and the latest news from Norman without the filter of official press conferences. It’s the kind of detailed, behind-the-scenes perspective that fans crave, delivered with the authority and access that only comes from the SoonerScoop.com crew. Tune in for a direct line to the heart of OU athletics, where every win, loss, and roster move is examined with a fan’s passion and an insider’s depth. This is the unofficial guide for the dedicated supporter, a podcast that captures the full spectrum of what it means to follow the Sooners.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Oklahoma Sooners Unofficial 40
Podcast Episodes
U40: Coaching moves, NFL Draft, winter workouts and Bedlam football [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:27:10
DeMarco Murray surprised us all by taking a job in the NFL and now the Sooners will begin the search for his replacement. Brent Venables has found his replacement for Jay Valai in Michigan's LaMar Morgan. What do we know…
U40: It's a national signing day celebration! No it's not. [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:24:49
There has been a lot of news floating around lately, so forgive some of us if we forgot it (used to be) is the biggest day of the year. National Signing Day! Actually no one remembered because most everyone signs in the…
U40: Getting to know the new power structure of OU athletics [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:17:32
There has been a massive change at the top of OU athletics as we were introduced to Roger Denny yesterday alongside President Joe Harroz and Chair of Athletics, Randall Stephenson. How will this affect fundraising? NIL?…
What can OU learn about Indiana's title and apply it to their roster? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:25:52
College football season is officially over now that Indiana has defeated Miami to win the National Championship. This is a good thing for everyone in college football right? So how did we get here? What did Indiana do th…
U40: Telling the stories of OU's portal victories [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:24
Josh was out at Navy All-American practices during today's show so Carey, Eddie and George took over the show. We're talking portal, portal, portal and giving some context on how some of OU's biggest grabs in the portal…
U40: The portal is swallowing up a lot of OU players. Any concerns? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:31:43
It's been a fast and furious day of Oklahoma football players entering the transfer portal. As we were recording the podcast today, we got the news that Mike Hawkins was entering the portal. And even more came after that…
Merry Christmas and welcome to Oklahoma football Portal Season! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:14:21
The last Unofficial 40 before Christmas. So Merry Christmas everybody! It's almost that other magical time of the year, Portal Season. The guys get together and talk about exactly what is happening inside the Switzer Cen…
We're antsy for the start of College Football Playoff week [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:19:06
It's just Wednesday. The Sooners are still 9 days away from their first round matchup with Alabama in Norman. The All-SEC teams were announced yesterday and OU had 10 players represented. They also had the SEC Special Te…