Paul Finebaum Reveals the Reason Hype Is Building Around College Football Powerhouse

Paul Finebaum Reveals the Reason Hype Is Building Around College Football Powerhouse originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

Anticipation is growing for the 2025 college football season, with several teams eager to move past disappointing performances from the previous year. 

The Oklahoma Sooners are among these teams, having finished with a 6-7 record for the second time in three seasons under head coach Brent Venables. They also faced challenges in their first year in the SEC, ending with a 2-6 record.

A major factor contributing to last season's struggles was the offense. In 2024, Oklahoma had one of the worst offenses in the nation, ranking 113th in total offense, 119th in passing offense, 76th in rushing offense and 97th in scoring offense. 

Offensive coordinator Seth Littrell was fired midseason and was replaced by Ben Arbuckle, the former offensive coordinator from Washington State, after the season concluded.

Despite a disappointing performance last season, there is some optimism in Oklahoma. On "The Paul Finebaum Show," SEC Network analyst Paul Finebaum discussed this sense of hope. He attributed it to the arrival of quarterback John Mateer, a transfer from Washington State.

"I think that's it," Finebaum said. "... Everyone is so high on Mateer, and I think that is a transformation in that fact that there was no wide receiver room last year; everybody was hurt."

Mateer had an impressive first season as the starter last year under Arbuckle, throwing for 3,139 yards, 29 touchdowns and only seven interceptions. He also rushed for 826 yards and added 15 touchdowns last season. Due to this strong performance, he has the 10th-best odds to win the Heisman Trophy, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.

In addition to Mateer, the Sooners have bolstered their offense with key transfers. They added Jaydn Ott, a top running back from the transfer portal and former California Golden Bears player. Although Ott faced injuries during the 2024 season, he had a remarkable 2023 season, rushing for 1,305 yards and scoring 12 touchdowns.

The Sooners also welcomed transfer receivers JaVonnie Gibson and Jer'Michael Carter. Gibson recorded 1,215 yards and nine touchdowns at Arkansas Pine Bluff, though he has been dealing with an offseason injury. Carter had 537 yards and three touchdowns at McNeese.

With these additions, Oklahoma aims for a bounce-back season, striving to make a significant resurgence and push for a College Football Playoff berth.

Related: Paul Finebaum Names Disappointing College Football Team in for a 'Great Season'

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on May 30, 2025, where it first appeared.