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: Sooners hit the road for a test of their mental toughness [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:22:56
The gang is back together after the biggest Oklahoma football win in a very long time. Eddie and George are getting ready to take off to Philadelphia to cover the Sooners taking on Temple. How does this team respond afte…
U40: It's a big one. Here comes Michigan. We break it down. [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:47:49
This is the one we've all been waiting for. Michigan is headed to town and Brent Venables gets another chance to put Oklahoma back on the national map. We're breaking it all down. Who is starting on the offensive line. W…
U40: What is Ben Arbuckle's playcalling going to look like [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:22:31
It's game week and all the media duties are over. We've talked to Brent Venables, Ben Arbuckle and all the team captains for Team 131. We don't know exactly what this is going to look like Saturday but we're interested t…
U40: Al Eschbach drops by unannounced so we made him pod with us [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:34:11
It started out like just another Unofficial 40 podcast in studio. And then after 30 minutes, Al Eschbach just decided to drop by the studios unannounced. So we did what we always do when people come into the studio durin…
U40: We look at key positions at this point in fall camp [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:36:18
Bill Bedenbaugh spoke this week about his offensive line and Carey, Josh, Eddie and George are here to give it all a hard look. Bedenbaugh has to find the right mix of experience versus talent on the offensive line if he…
U40: Tons of camp access and stuff to talk about before the opener [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:33:46
It's been a great preseason for the Scoop crew to get out and watch portions of practice thanks to Brent Venables' media friendliness this August. Carey and Josh get to weigh in on what they've been seeing and hearing fr…
U40: Trying to crack the code on how this season will go [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:15:13
The gang is finally back together after honeymoons, flight delays and the start of fall/preseason camp. We just had a media gathering with 7 players, Brent Venables and Ben Arbuckle. What did we take from the preseason g…
U40: Coaches luncheon, offensive hopium and NIL changes [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:22:58
It's a busy day as Josh is back from vacation and Carey and Eddie spent the afternoon at the OU coaches luncheon where Brent Venables, Ben Arbuckle and Todd Bates talked some OU football to raise money for Fostering Futu…