Oklahoma is ready for the John Mateer era to take over the 2025 college football season, but its future beyond that remains uncertain. The Sooners previously had 2026 four-star quarterback recruit Jaden O'Neal ready to take over, but suddenly lost his commitment on Thursday.

After being committed to Oklahoma for over a year, O'Neal confirmed his decommitment to On3 Sports' Hayes Fawcett. O'Neal has been a part of Brent Venables' 2026 recruiting class since June 2024 before deciding to open up his options.

Before decommitting, O'Neal was one of the top candidates to take over the Sooners' offense in 2026. Oklahoma landed Mateer, the top quarterback in the college football transfer portal, but fully expects him to enter the 2026 NFL Draft after one season with the program.

O'Neal's decision only furthers Oklahoma fans' hopes of landing another top 2026 quarterback recruit, Bowe Bentley. As one of the top dual-threat prospects of the class, Bentley seems to be narrowing his decision down to either LSU or the Sooners. Many believe that O'Neal's decommitment indicates that the coaching staff could feel optimistic about Bentley.

O'Neal received interest from Arizona, Auburn, Florida State, Arkansas, Boston College, Michigan and many others before committing to Oklahoma, per 247 Sports. He visited Arizona and Florida State before giving Venables his word. Without a solid reason for his change of heart, all options could be back on the table.

Oklahoma enters 2025 college football season with new hope

Article Continues Below
More NCAA Football News
College Football 26 Gameplay adds new plays, archetypes, & more
College Football 26 Gameplay adds new plays, archetypes, & moreMassimo Marchiano ·
Michigan Wolverines fans celebrate a 13-10 win over Ohio State Buckeyes at the end of the NCAA football game at Ohio Stadium
Michigan football picks up prediction to land 4-star DBScotty White ·
Team Blue quarterback Bryce Underwood (19) makes a pass against Team Maize during the second half of the spring game at Michigan Stadium
Michigan football rumors: Why Bryce Underwood is ‘clear favorite’ to be starting QBScotty White ·
Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Will Howard (18) throws to wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (4) during the first half of the College Football Playoff first round game against the Tennessee Volunteers at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Dec. 21, 2024.
2028 QB target reveals what makes Ohio State ‘stand outLorenzo J Reyna ·
Kobe Bryant poses for a portrait inside of his office in Costa Mesa, California, on Jan. 17, 2020. Bryant, one of the greatest NBA players in history, is building an impressive resume in his post-basketball career, including winning an Academy Award.
Oregon secures Kobe Bryant’s 5-star nephew commitmentLorenzo J Reyna ·
UCLA Bruins head coach DeShaun Foster hugs quarterback Ethan Garbers (4) as time runs out during a Bruins victory over the Fresno State Bulldogs at Rose Bowl.
UCLA’s DeShaun Foster posts sly reaction after landing massive 4-star winLorenzo J Reyna ·
Washington State Cougars quarterback John Mateer (10) throws a pass against the Wyoming Cowboys in the second half at Gesa Field at Martin Stadium.
James Snook-Imagn Images

Despite losing Jackson Arnold in the college football transfer portal, Oklahoma's 2025 outlook remains sky-high with Mateer. The Texas native broke out in 2024, recording 3,139 passing yards, 29 touchdowns and seven interceptions with 826 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns on the ground.

Shortly after landing Mateer, Oklahoma made another splash by snagging former California running back Jaydn Ott in the portal. Some saw Ott as the top running back available, giving the Sooners two of the best offensive players on the market.

Oklahoma desperately seeks a bounce-back year with its new additions after going just 6-7 in 2024. They started the year 4-1 before falling flat, going just 2-6 the rest of the way. While uninspiring, the Sooners' listless late-year stretch included a massive 24-3 upset win over No. 7-ranked Alabama.

Through three years, Venables has a 10-3 season sandwiched by two 6-7 campaigns. The program still seeks stability since Lincoln Riley abruptly left in 2021, hopefully beginning in 2025.