Just over a month out, with rosters clarified and the portal closed, season projections are beginning to be released. Wednesday, ESPN.com wrote about each of its preseason top-25 teams' X-factor. Reporter Chris Low, who writes about the SEC, selected Mateer as the key to Oklahoma's season.

Cam Ward had John Mateer as his backup for two seasons in Pullman. Ward, another under-recruited player who started his career at Incarnate Word, won the 2024 Heisman at Miami (FL) and was picked with the first pick of the 2025 NFL Draft by the Tennessee Titans in April.