NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — John Mateer passed for 392 yards and three touchdowns in a record-setting first game at Oklahoma, and the 18th-ranked Sooners beat Illinois State 35-3 on Saturday night.

Mateer, a transfer from Washington State, set the school record for most yards passing in an Oklahoma debut, surpassing Baker Mayfield’s 388 yards against Akron in 2015.

“Oh, it’s awesome,” Mateer said. “It’s a blessing. You go in the record books in Game 1 — it’s a super good feeling.”

Mateer also surpassed his Washington State career high of 390 yards passing. He completed 30 of 37 passes and ran for a score.

Keontez Lewis, a transfer from Southern Illinois, had nine catches for 119 yards and two touchdowns for Oklahoma. Jaren Kanak, a converted linebacker, had five catches for 90 yards in his first game at tight end.

Deion Burks added seven catches for 88 yards and a score for Oklahoma, which gained 495 yards in Ben Arbuckle’s first game as offensive coordinator.

The Sooners allowed just 151 total yards, including 34 yards passing, with head coach Brent Venables as the defensive play-caller. He took over after his previous play-caller, Zac Alley, left to become defensive coordinator at West Virginia.

Wright Wenkers had 50 yards on seven carries for Illinois State. The FCS Redbirds’ only points came on a field goal in the third quarter after Mateer threw an interception deep in his team’s territory.

“I wasn’t too enthralled with how we played the pass defensively and how we threw the ball offensively,” Illinois State coach Brock Spack said. “We lost that game in the passing game on both sides of the ball.”

The Sooners had a number of things go well but certainly have a lot to work on after this game. OU has a huge test against Michigan approaching next week. While the run defense, rushing offense, turnovers, and penalties were definitely below-par (especially against an FCS opponent), the Sooners showed off improvements in the pass defense and passing offense.

Oklahoma had several stars from this game, as they eventually found their rhythm on both sides of the ball in a 32-point win. Here are our three stars of the game, as the Sooners got back into the swing of things on Saturday.

1. John Mateer, QB

Yes, it’s just Illinois State, and yes, the real test comes next week against Michigan and all season long against the SEC, but it looks like the Sooners may have themselves a quarterback again. John Mateer looked like a guy who can be a difference-maker for Oklahoma.

The new sheriff in Norman completed 30 out of 37 pass attempts and threw for three touchdowns and one interception. His 392 passing yards broke a school record for most passing yards in a player’s first start, a mark held by Baker Mayfield. Mateer also added a rushing score and 24 yards on the ground.

Short of a bad throw on the interception, Mateer played very well and flashed the kind of play-making ability the Sooners haven’t had since Jalen Hurts suited up in the crimson and cream. He spread the ball around to his playmakers and found his sweet spot after a slow start. One game in, Mateer was what this coaching staff hoped he’d be.

2. Sammy Omosigho, LB

Though he didn’t start this game for the Sooners at middle linebacker, Sammy Omosigho still wound up leading the team in total tackles with eight. He also registered a sack and helped the Sooners give up just 34 total passing yards in 60 minutes of action.

Oklahoma needs multiple players to step up and fill the void left by the loss of Danny Stutsman’s production and leadership. Omosigho has been under the radar a bit during his time in Norman, quietly growing and developing behind the scenes in OU’s linebacker room. The 2025 season could be the year he bursts onto the scene.

Omosigho is a versatile player who has already played multiple positions during his time with the Sooners, and he can line up just about anywhere on the second level of the OU defense. Venables will be able to move him around and use him to his strengths. Omosigho, Kip Lewis, and Kobie McKinzie are taking up the mantle of leadership at the inside linebacker position, and the Sooners will need them to play big against Michigan next week.

3. Keontez Lewis, WR

Wide receiver Keontez Lewis stole the show on Saturday night, establishing himself as a target that Mateer and the Sooners can count on. Oklahoma was looking for a wideout to step up opposite Deion Burks’ speed and playmaking ability. One game in, it looks like Lewis could be a prime candidate.

It was a nine-catch, 119-yard, two-touchdown performance for Lewis in his first game as a Sooner. Noticeably, he did something that the OU receivers on the field in 2024 couldn’t do: Get open and catch the football in contested situations. Lewis showed an ability to find green grass and make himself available for Mateer, and he made some big plays as well, evidenced by his 13.2 yards per catch average.

In a perfect world, Lewis is a great compliment to Burks, a sound possession wideout to go with Burks’ breakaway speed and home run ability. It’s still far too early to say that that’ll be the case for 11 more games, but Sooner Nation had to like what they saw from the Southern Illinois transfer.

The Sooners welcome No. 14 Michigan, who defeated New Mexico 34-17 in week one at home, next Saturday in Norman for a 6:30 p.m. CT kick on ABC. ESPN’s College Gameday announced that it would be in Norman for the contest.