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
It's National Signing Day on the Unofficial 40 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:17:23
Jim Nagy and Brent Venables put together their first full recruiting class together in the 2026 cycle. How do we feel the partnership is going after listening to both of them talk about the class on National Signing Day?…
U40: Can Sooners get to 10-2 with this RB situation? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:34:20
Oklahoma is currently ranked No. 8 in the College Football Playoff Rankings. That means that as long as OU wins out, they should be good for inclusion in the playoff. It also means they are in the running for a first-rou…
OU heads to Alabama with playoff hopes firmly within reach [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:29:20
The Sooners get set to head to Alabama for one of the biggest SEC games of the season. The Sooners can likely punch their ticket to the CFB Playoffs with a win. Otherwise, it's hoping other things can fall their way. We…
What this week has taught us about where the offense is now [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:41:44
It's been a full week of trying to figure out what is wrong with John Mateer and Oklahoma's offense. We started out with Saturday frustrations and worked our way through players and coaches to try and find answers as to…
U40: Can the offense keep climbing as Ole Miss comes to town? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:23:40
We're back to big games in Norman as the Sooners have rebounded from their loss to Texas and seem to have found a running game. A big part of this being a big game is also a healthier hand from John Mateer even though we…
U40: Venables facing another must win situation at South Carolina [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:21:35
Brent Venables is no stranger to these matchups. Win, and the monkey is off your back. For now. Lose, and the seat immediately warms up. The Sooners are favored, but they're on the road. They have the defense, but they l…
U40: We can't figure out if Mateer will play, much less who will win [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:28:45
We're halfway through the week and the John Mateer news continues to confuse. Indoor practices, interesting press conference answers, good-on-good, hiding in bushes, it's part OU-TX part media frenzy this week in Norman.…
OU football returns with Michael Hawkins at the helm [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:31:32
Oklahoma football comes off their bye week without their starting quarterback as John Mateer had surgery last week. But that doesn't mean we're not excited to see what Michael Hawkins Jr., can do in his absence. Let's fa…