The Washington State Cougars thought they struck gold with John Mateer this season. And honestly, they kind of did. The kid was a straight-up baller, throwing for over 3,130 yards and 29 touchdowns while rushing for another 826 yards and 15 touchdowns. That’s the whole Miami special looking package. With those stats, Mateer was cooking defenses like Thanksgiving turkeys.

The Cougars finished the season with 8-4, which wasn’t exactly a playoff cut but still a big win after losing their previous Heisman finalist QB, Cam Ward, to Mario Cristobal’s Miami Hurricanes. But just as Cougar fans started dreaming of a brighter future, Mateer pulled a Cam Ward of his own, hitting the transfer portal on December 16th and immediately becoming the hottest thing on the market.

Here’s where things get spicy. Washington State head coach Jake Dickert spilled some serious tea about Mateer’s exit. “At the end of the day, he wanted to play on a bigger stage,” Dickert said. “It was seven figures. You know, it was strong. It was everything that I could have imagined, and more.” Seven figures, y’all. That’s over one million! And we’re talking millionaire money being thrown at a college QB to stay. And yet, even that ain’t enough to lock him down.

The man knows his market value. If anything, he’s about to make 3x of what Washington State had offered. Dickert didn’t hold back, throwing shade at the whole portal process, saying, “Well, I think the first step is realizing there are no rules.” Dickert ain’t a fool, as he already saw it coming with all the transfer portal saga. Imagine your QB throws 30 touchdowns and rushes for 15 touchdowns a season; you better know, the heavy-hitter programs are lurking for your prize.

Mateer’s move doesn’t just hurt; it changes the game. This guy wasn’t just a quarterback—he was the quarterback with the best receipt in the portal. The man finished 5th nationally in passing touchdowns, 8th in efficiency, and 5th in points responsible for. Not gonna lie, losing him is like pulling the engine out of a Ferrari. Sure, it still looks nice, but it’s not going anywhere.

And let’s not forget, this portal move has some major ‘Cam Ward’ energy. Ward jumped ship last season, landed in Miami, and became a Heisman finalist under offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson. If Mateer’s following that blueprint, Wazzu fans might need some therapy sessions lined up.

Where is John Mateer playing next season?

So, where’s Mateer headed? Right now, the frontrunners seem to be Oklahoma and Miami. The Sooners have an edge because Mateer’s former offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle and QB coach John Kuceyeski are now running the show in Norman.That kind of familiarity is hard to beat.

Pete Nakos from On3 even called Oklahoma his likely landing spot. The Sooners need a QB who can make their program great again. Ever since Lincoln Riley left Norman, the place ain’t same. The Sooners lost their QB Jackson Arnold, the Alabama slayer, to the portal last week. They are planning to upgrade at QB. And who’s better than Johnny Boy?

But don’t sleep on Miami, though. The Hurricanes are in full sales mode, pointing to Cam Ward’s glow-up as proof that they’re the ultimate QB factory. Ward balled out in Miami, and threw for 36 touchdowns and 4,123 yards, leading the nation’s top offense and finishing 3rd in the Heisman race. That’s crazy stat. Mateer must be looking at that and thinking, ‘That could be me.’

For Washington State, this one stings. They’ve now lost two elite QBs in back-to-back seasons, and no amount of NIL money could stop it. For Mateer, the sky’s the limit. Whether he ends up in Norman, Miami, or somewhere else, he’s literally got a chance to cement himself as one of the top QBs in the nation. One thing’s for sure: wherever Mateer goes next, the college football world will be watching with great interest. And so will that seven-figure check.