Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer is facing scrutiny after screenshots of alleged old Venmo transactions surfaced on social media Monday.
The images sparked allegations of sports gambling and became widely circulated. They show Mateer made two payments in November 2022 during his freshman season at Washington State. The memo lines for the transactions read “sports gambling” and “sports gambling (UCLA vs USC).”
Under NCAA rules, athletes are prohibited from wagering on any NCAA-sponsored sport. Any violations can carry significant penalties, including loss of eligibility.
The screenshots are reportedly tied to payments sent to then-teammate Richard Roaten. They’ve prompted speculation about Mateer’s involvement.
Mateer addressed the matter on social media, firmly denying that he’s ever bet on sports.
“The allegations that I once participated in sports gambling are false. My previous Venmo descriptions did not accurately portray the transactions in question but were instead inside jokes between me and my friends. I have never bet on sports.”
— John Mateer (@John_Mateer4) August 12, 2025
Mateer acknowledged that the language used in the payment notes could be misleading. But he denied they were evidence of wrongdoing. His Venmo activity has since been removed or made private.
According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, Oklahoma officials are aware of the allegations and are investigating the matter.
Mateer was ranked as 247Sports’ No. 1 transfer portal prospect. He transferred from Washington State to Oklahoma this offseason, following offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle to Norman.
He posted a standout season at Washington State. Mateer completed 64.6 percent of his passes for 3,139 yards, 29 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He added 826 rushing yards and 15 rushing scores.
The controversy comes just weeks before No. 18 Oklahoma opens its season Aug. 30 against Illinois State.
Coach Brent Venables is under pressure after a 6-7 record in 2024. He was counting on Mateer to deliver stability at quarterback as the Sooners enter their second SEC season.
Whether the NCAA chooses to investigate could determine if Mateer takes the field in the opener. Or if he faces a far more complicated start to his Oklahoma career.
