ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Oklahoma offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle did not place the Sooners’ offensive struggles solely on John Mateer.
He did not excuse them, either.
Oklahoma managed only 10 points, converted three of 14 third downs and failed to score on its final three possessions during Saturday’s 17–10 loss at Michigan.
Mateer completed 17 of 33 passes for 189 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He also led Oklahoma with 45 rushing yards but consistently missed high when opportunities developed in the passing game.
“I thought he was maybe a little bit shaky early,” Arbuckle said. “He really came out and responded in the second half. I think he completed his first nine or 10 passes.”
That response helped Oklahoma erase a 10–0 halftime deficit.
The Sooners drove 90 yards for a touchdown on their opening possession of the third quarter. After forcing another Michigan punt, they moved 83 yards to set up Tate Sandell’s game-tying field goal.
Oklahoma appeared to have seized control.
Then the offense disappeared again.
Several potential chunk throws sailed beyond their intended targets. Mateer’s fourth-quarter interception gave Michigan possession at the Oklahoma 6-yard line, and the Wolverines scored the deciding touchdown two plays later.
“I think two or three of them kind of sailed on him,” Arbuckle said. “We’ve got to peel back the film and learn from it.”
Mateer offered a similarly direct assessment.
“My eyes weren’t great,” Mateer said. “I missed throws that I normally don’t miss, and we’ll figure out the reasons.”
Mateer said falling away from a throw can historically cause the football to sail on him, although he did not want to diagnose every miss before reviewing the film.
Arbuckle said pressure became a factor when Michigan’s defensive front was able to attack obvious passing situations. However, Oklahoma also had opportunities from clean pockets that it did not convert.
“For him to be the player that we know he is, he has to be able to deliver in those moments,” Arbuckle said. “I’ve got to do a really good job of putting those guys in a position to be successful.”
That is the balance Oklahoma must find.
The protection must improve. The Sooners must establish a legitimate running game. Arbuckle must continue creating favorable formations and matchups.
But when the correct play is called and a receiver wins, Mateer must deliver a catchable football.
Oklahoma entered the season believing Mateer could lead it back to the College Football Playoff. Nothing from Saturday definitively proves he cannot become that player.
It did demonstrate how far the offense still has to go.
“We were getting the looks that we thought we were going to get throughout the week,” Mateer said. “We’ve just got to be physical.”
Oklahoma will return home to face New Mexico before traveling to Georgia and meeting Texas in Dallas.
The time for diagnosing problems will become very short.
The Sooners must correct them—and Mateer must become the consistently accurate quarterback they believe and hope he can be.
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