Washington State quarterback John Mateer has officially entered the transfer portal.
Mateer’s college future has been a source of speculation since the end of the 2024 season. Mateer has been one of the most productive quarterbacks in college football this season, both throwing and running the football.
The redshirt sophomore completed 224 of 347 passes for 3,139 yards and 29 touchdowns with just seven interceptions. He also rushed 178 times for 826 yards and 15 touchdowns while he was the team’s leading rusher.
Mateer’s 44 total touchdowns were the most of any player in college football. Heisman finalist and former Washington State QB Cam Ward was second with 41 touchdowns and Clemson QB Cade Klubnik was the only other player with at least 40 total touchdowns.
Mateer has had at least one passing touchdown and one rushing touchdown in 10 of Washington State’s 12 games this season.
“John will be the most sought-after player in the portal,” Washington State coach Jake Dickert said Monday. “I think he’s going to be the best player in the country next year and he informed us that he’s actually going to walk through the gate.
“The most important aspect of our program is that it proves once again that our process works. Our process works. We’re taking a group of kids who don’t have other Power Five offerings, we’re developing them into something really, really special.
Oklahoma will immediately be considered a suitor for Mateer. The Sooners fired offensive coordinator Seth Littrell near the end of the 2024 season and hired Washington State OC Ben Arbuckle after the regular season. Oklahoma’s Week 1 starter, Jackson Arnold, entered the transfer portal at the end of the season and has already committed to Auburn.
Mateer will have two seasons of eligibility remaining at his new school. He only appeared in one game in 2021 before making 11 appearances behind Ward in 2022. Ward was Wazzu’s starting quarterback for two seasons before being traded to Miami for the 2024 season.