Oklahoma
Oklahoma QB John Mateer (hand) upgraded to probable vs. Texas
Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer is listed as probable for the Sooners’ rivalry game against Texas, according to the SEC availability report released Thursday evening.
Mateer, whom the Sooners listed as questionable Wednesday, is continuing to recover from having hand surgery after the team’s win over Auburn last month.
Earlier this week, Oklahoma coach Brent Venables was non-committal on Mateer’s status. Venables said during his Monday radio show and during his Tuesday news conference that he was unsure when Mateer would return. Venables noted Tuesday that Mateer was not yet a full participant in practice, but the coach was coy when asked about Mateer’s status Wednesday during the weekly SEC coaches teleconference.
Mateer missed the Sooners’ 44-0 win over Kent State last week. Last month, a team source told The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman the initial hope was that Mateer would return in time for Oklahoma’s road trip to South Carolina on Oct. 18. But there has been heavy speculation recently that Mateer would push to return this weekend.
Before the Kent State game, Mateer dressed out for warmups with a brace on his right hand.
Here is #Sooners QB John Mateer, who is wearing a brace on his hand. pic.twitter.com/81KrtF07iR
— Brody Lusk (@BrodyLusk) October 4, 2025
Sophomore Michael Hawkins started in Mateer’s place against Kent State, with Whitt Newbauer backing him up. Hawkins threw for 162 yards and three touchdowns. He also ran for 33 yards and a score.
When asked Thursday about the impact Mateer would have if he played, Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said the quarterback elevates the Sooners.
“He’s instilled a lot of belief in that organization when he takes the field … just his presence alone,” Sarkisian said. “On top of the skill set, his ability to run the ball, his competitive spirit, his ability to throw the ball out of the pocket, his comfort level with Coach Arbuckle from their time at Washington State, there’s added things to that … but one thing he does is instill belief for their team.”
Mateer helped fuel the Sooners’ first four wins by throwing for 1,215 yards and six touchdowns while rushing for 190 yards and five more scores in September. Before his injury knocked him out of the lineup, he had emerged as the betting favorite for the Heisman Trophy.
The No. 6 Sooners (5-0) will face Arch Manning and the Longhorns (3-2) at 3:30 p.m. ET Saturday at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma City man claiming to be financial investor charged with fraud
OKLAHOMA CITY (KOKH) — A federal grand jury has charged an Oklahoma City man with dozens of counts of wire fraud, money laundering, and aggravated identity theft.
From June 2021 through December 2025, officials say 36-year-old Matthew Mclain Veazey presented himself as a successful financial investment professional. Public records indicate that Veazey encouraged friend and family to send him money by claiming he had special access to favorable investment opportunities due to his connections.
However, authorities say Veazey kept the money for himself and used it for personal expenses.
Court records allege that investors gave Veazey $2.38 million, but those funds were never repaid. Authorities say Veazey fabricated text messages and email communications from real people to convince victims that his investment activities were real.
This week, a federal grand jury returned a 30-count indictment charging Veazey with 21 counts of wire fraud, five counts of money laundering, and four counts of aggravated identity theft.
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If convicted, Veazey faces up to 20 years in federal prison and fines up to $250,000 for each count of wire fraud, up to 10 years in federal prison and fines up to $250,000 for each count of money laundering.
Oklahoma
PORTAL TARGET BREAKDOWN: Oklahoma State guard Amari Whiting
Oklahoma
UFL Expanding to Oklahoma City, Moving to 10 Teams in 2028
The more, the merrier!
The United Football League announced on Thursday morning that it’s expanding to 10 teams in 2028, including the addition of a team in Oklahoma City.
“Oklahoma lives and breathes football, so bringing the UFL to Oklahoma City was an easy decision,” UFL Co-Owner Mike Repole said in a statement about the inclusion of Oklahoma City. “This is a state that shows up, cares deeply, and truly understands the game. From college powerhouses to Friday night lights, football runs deep here. We’re committed to building a franchise in OKC that the entire state can rally behind.”
The Oklahoma City UFL team doesn’t yet have a name but will play its home games at MAPS 4 Multipurpose Stadium, which is under construction. The location of the other expansion team isn’t known, either.
“Oklahoma City has long been one of the most glaring vacancies on the professional football map,” UFL President & CEO Russ Brandon said in a statement. “The combination of a new stadium, deep-rooted football culture, and a city that has proven its ability to support major league sports makes this an easy decision. We are thrilled to bring the UFL’s brand of high-octane spring football to the passionate fans of Oklahoma.”
The lone professional sports team in Oklahoma City is the Thunder, who just won their first NBA championship in franchise history last season. Elsewhere, the Oklahoma Sooners (college) are located roughly 25 minutes south of Oklahoma City, while the Oklahoma State Cowboys (college) are located roughly 70 minutes north of Oklahoma City.
As for this season, which is two weeks young, the UFL has three new teams: the Columbus Aviators, Louisville Kings and Orlando Storm.
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