Texas vs. Oklahoma live updates: No. 1 Longhorns battle Sooners in 2026 Red River Rivalry

Oklahoma coach Brent Venables is evaluating all options at quarterback after John Mateer's slow start. Mateer remains the starter, but backups Bowe Bentley and Whitt Newbauer have gotten additional snaps during the bye week. 

Venables admitted the staff considered benching Mateer during a 41-13 loss to No. 2 Georgia, but they ultimately stuck with him. The Sooners are averaging 11.5 points per game against Power Four competition with Mateer at the helm. 

"I have no idea," Venables said. "We're not there right now … John's our starting quarterback." 

Is Oklahoma likely to mix it up at QB in Red River vs. Texas? Brent Venables evaluating John Mateer, options

Shehan Jeyarajah

By the end of September, there was consistent enthusiasm among NFL personnel staffers regarding certain college quarterbacks and their future as NFL draft prospects.

It was enthusiasm -- based on the standout play of a few specific quarterbacks -- that was shared unprompted by a combination of NFL player personnel directors, college scouting directors and scouts during conversations with CBS Sports.

Except it hasn't been about the quarterbacks that those NFL personnel staffers originally expected to be talking about at this point. As was the case in the media space, there was a feeling around the NFL personnel world heading into the season that there were a number of quarterbacks with a chance to be early-round picks in next year's draft, including several that at that point they believed had first-round (and possibly early first-round) potential. The consistent belief going into the season was that it was a good year if you were an NFL team that needed a quarterback and that it could end up being one of the stronger QB draft classes in recent years.

NFL scouts cool on 2027 QB draft class: Why Arch Manning and others could benefit from staying in college

Matt Zenitz

Oklahoma coach Brent Venables called out the state of the program's offensive line development ahead of a battle against No. 1 Texas on Saturday in the annual Red River Rivalry. 

"It's been incredibly inconsistent and very disappointing," Venables said. "As you build your football team, that's a critical place. That's a place that probably requires the most development of any position that you have on your roster." 

Brent Venables blasts Oklahoma's offensive line woes before Red River Rivalry vs. Texas

Shehan Jeyarajah