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.

An elk was caught on camera exploring several neighborhoods in Altus, Oklahoma, this week.

In a video shared on the city’s Facebook page, the elk is seen hopping over fences in a few backyards while Altus police and animal control officers, as well as the Oklahoma game warden, worked to guide the elk safely toward open land.

When it became clear the elk wasn’t ready to leave, the team called the Oklahoma game warden to the scene and Animal Control Officer Nick West safely and humanely tranquilized the elk so it could be relocated.

“We want to thank everyone involved for their teamwork, patience, and quick response. Their efforts kept both the community and the elk safe,” the city’s post reads.

While elk may appear gentle or friendly, they’re still powerful animals, the city’s post notes.

“If you ever see one in town, the safest thing to do is admire from a distance and contact Animal Control. No selfies, no feeding, and no chasing,” the post says.

Are there any wild elk in Oklahoma?

According to the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, the largest free-ranging elk herds in the state can be found in the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, as well as at Pushmataha, Cookson Hills, Spavinaw, and Cherokee wildlife management areas. Small herds can also be found on private land in Kiowa, Comanche, and Caddo counties.

Are elk rare in the south?

Seeing an elk is still a rare sight in Oklahoma, but it’s not as rare as it once was.

Elk once roamed the Wichita Mountains before Oklahoma became a state, but the population was gone by 1875. In 1901, land was set aside, which became the refuge, and seven years later, elk were reintroduced to southwest Oklahoma.

Since then, herds have grown significantly. In 2012, ODWC conducted a helicopter survey and estimated 3,200 free-ranging elk statewide, The Oklahoman previously reported. By 2019, ODWC staff estimated Oklahoma’s statewide elk population had grown to more than 5,000.