ESPN SHOCKER: Oklahoma QB John Mateer Stuns College Football World—Turns Down $4.5M NIL Deal from Georgia to Stay Loyal to Sooners!

 

In a stunning turn that has rocked the college football world, Oklahoma Sooners quarterback John Mateer has reportedly turned down a jaw-dropping $4.5 million Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) offer from the University of Georgia to succeed Carson Beck. The shocking decision, first reported by ESPN, underscores Mateer’s unwavering loyalty to Oklahoma—at a time when loyalty in college football is increasingly rare.

 

Sources close to the situation say Mateer had already secured $2.1 million in NIL earnings back in December, positioning him comfortably among the sport’s top earners. However, the latest offer from Georgia represented a massive increase—and a golden opportunity to lead one of the nation’s premier SEC programs.

 

But Mateer wasn’t swayed.

 

“I came to Norman for a reason,” Mateer reportedly told teammates. “This program believed in me before anyone else. I’m staying to finish what we started.”

 

Mateer’s decision to stay with the Sooners sends a powerful message in today’s ever-changing NIL and transfer portal landscape, where athletes are routinely flipping schools for bigger financial packages. Many analysts had speculated that Mateer was primed to make a blockbuster move to Athens after Beck’s departure. Instead, he’s doubled down on his role as Oklahoma’s future leader.

 

“This is the kind of commitment that sets the tone for a locker room,” one Sooners insider noted. “John’s decision tells everyone—players, coaches, and fans—that this team is building something real.”

 

With Oklahoma preparing for its debut SEC season, Mateer’s loyalty could galvanize a squad on the verge of national contention. Amid the chaos of the NIL era, John Mateer just became a symbol of something rare—faith in the team, not just the paycheck.