Just five days before they rematch the No. 9 Alabama Crimson Tide in the first round of the College Football Playoff, the No. 8 Oklahoma Sooners received some encouraging news that has their fans breathing a sigh of relief.
One month ago to the day, Oklahoma edged out then-No. 4-ranked Alabama 23-21 in a game many dubbed a CFP preview.
The Sooners rode timely second-half defensive plays and the leg of kicker Tate Sandell, who went 3-for-3 and kicked a 24-yard game-winning field goal in the fourth quarter, to their eighth win of the year.
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And with Part II set for Friday in Norman, Oklahoma, in a win-or-go-home scenario, the stakes have been raised even more.
So when the latest injury update on OU quarterback John Mateer came out on Monday, Sooners fans were likely grinning from ear to ear.
“No tape on John Mateer’s hand today from what I was able to see. Here’s a little bit of him throwing during open practice,” Willie Gillespie of OU Daily wrote on X.
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Mateer has played with his thumb wrapped ever since having surgery on it back at the end of September. Though he’s claimed it’s been fine ever since, there’s been a clear drop off in his numbers pre- and post-surgery.
In the four games before he injured his thumb, Mateer averaged 303 yards passing per game with six touchdowns, three interceptions, and a 67.4 completion percentage.
In the seven games after his surgery, Mateer is averaging 195 yards passing per game with six touchdowns, seven interceptions, and a 58.6 completion percentage.
Mateer practicing without a wrap on his hand is surely a good sign that he could be closer to his early season form than he’s been in the last two months.
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