Mateer Expected Out About a Month; Hawkins Starts

Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer said surgery to repair a broken bone in his right hand, performed by Dr. Steven Shin at Cedars‑Sinai in Los Angeles, was successful. ESPN reports Mateer — an early Heisman contender who has completed 67.4% of passes for 1,215 yards with six passing touchdowns and leads the Sooners with 190 rushing yards and five rushing TDs — is expected to miss about a month. Sophomore Michael Hawkins Jr. will start Oklahoma’s next game against Kent State on Oct. 4. The Sooners are 4–0 and remain nationally ranked, but Mateer’s absence clouds their outlook as they enter a bye week before a stretch that includes Texas and other ranked opponents; his injury has moved Heisman odds and raised concerns about Oklahoma’s SEC prospects. Fans have rallied around Mateer and Dr. Shin online, and one fan, Carson Grane, traveled to Cedars‑Sinai to present the surgeon an Oklahoma banner.