Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer became a trending topic on social media Monday night.
And it was all because of his Venmo account.
Screenshots surfaced showing Mateer’s Venmo payment history with transactions labeled “Sports Gambling,” including one specifically for “UCLA vs. USC” in 2022. That season, Mateer was a freshman at Washington State.
Mateer has since deleted the transactions and made his Venmo account private.
According to George Stoia of SoonerScoop, the Sooners quarterback has already been in contact with the athletic department and compliance staff as part of damage control.
“SoonerScoop has spoken to several people inside the school and program and can tell you that Mateer has been in contact with the athletic department and compliance. The school is aware of the situation and is handling it. Mateer made it clear to the school that he has never gambled,” Stoia reported.
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Stoia also noted that Oklahoma has not heard from the NCAA but there is a possibility the school and Mateer “might release a statement on Tuesday.”
It’s worth noting that NCAA athletes are prohibited from sports gambling, but proving any violation here could be difficult. Venmo users can label transactions however they choose — and decide whether to make them public or private.
“Those Venmo receipts definitely aren’t actually him sports gambling, but just in general, it is very funny that Venmo transactions are public. There’s really zero good reason for it. Let us have our bizarre collection of inside joke emojis in peace,” CBS Sports’ Shehan Jeyarajah posted.
Regardless of intent, this is not the type of headline Oklahoma wanted weeks before the season begins. Mateer was one of the most sought-after quarterbacks in the transfer portal, arriving in Norman reportedly on a deal worth nearly $3 million, and will be tasked with revitalizing the Sooners’ offense in 2025.