Mateer’s Late Pick-Six Dooms Oklahoma in 21-13 Loss to Kentucky
A failed fourth-down trick play and two late interceptions unraveled a 270-yard passing performance for the Sooners.
NORMAN, Okla. — Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer threw a pick-six with 1:17 remaining Saturday night, handing Kentucky a 21-13 victory at Gaylord Family — Oklahoma Memorial Stadium and erasing a near-complete first-half performance.
The turnover came after Mateer had thrown for a season-high 270 yards. But the Sooners’ offensive line, missing starting left tackle Michael Fasusi, collapsed under sustained pressure. Fill-in Ryan Fodje played on a heavily taped ankle before Peyton Joseph replaced him late in the fourth quarter. According to The Oklahoman, Mateer was sacked five times, three of them in the final period.
Down 14-13 with possession, Mateer’s pass was intercepted and returned for a touchdown by the Wildcats. Oklahoma got the ball back trailing by eight points and drove to midfield before Mateer threw another interception on a desperation heave, ending any chance of a Hail Mary attempt.
The loss drops Oklahoma a week after its Cotton Bowl victory and raises immediate questions about head coach Brent Venables’ play-calling decisions. Rather than kicking a short field goal to pull within 7-6 in the second quarter, the Sooners ran a fake on fourth-and-2 following a 12-play, six-and-a-half-minute drive. Holder Jacob Ulrich took the snap and threw a jump pass intended for Rocky Beers. Kentucky safety Jordan Castell intercepted it. An earlier flea flicker in the first quarter resulted in a 5-yard sack.
Kentucky leaned heavily on two former Oklahoma players to set the tone. Jovantae Barnes and Nic Anderson were named the Wildcats’ game captains — Kentucky selects captains weekly rather than naming season-long leaders, according to The Oklahoman. Both featured prominently on an opening 13-play, 67-yard touchdown drive. It marked the first time this season Oklahoma’s defense allowed points on an opponent’s opening possession.
Anderson led Kentucky with five receptions for 48 yards, including a 12-yard grab on third-and-11 in the third quarter and a contested 17-yard catch in the fourth that was batted around before he secured it. Barnes added five carries for 16 yards.
Oklahoma wore modernized throwback uniforms representing the 1946-56 era — plain white helmets, red jerseys and white pants. Kentucky wore black helmets, white jerseys and black pants.
The Sooners return to practice this week needing Fasusi healthy to stabilize the left side of the line. Without him, Mateer spent the second half running from a collapsing pocket against a Kentucky front that forced the exact mistakes Venables’ staff tried to manufacture on the other side of the ball.
