Three interceptions against Kentucky didn’t cost John Mateer his job.

The Oklahoma Sooners are sticking with their starting quarterback, offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle said this week. Arbuckle added that the staff will lean harder on protecting the football, beginning with the upcoming road trip to Mississippi State.

Arbuckle has coached Mateer for four seasons, and he didn’t hedge.

“Everything that he’s done, the player that he is, the preparation that he has, we believe that John Mateer gives us the best chance to win,” Arbuckle said.

That stance follows a 21-13 home-field loss to Kentucky. Mateer connected on 24 of his 40 attempts, threw for 270 yards and found the end zone once, but the three picks equaled the most he’s ever thrown in a game.

Kentucky turned two of them, both thrown in the final 16 minutes, into touchdowns.

Seven of Mateer’s passes this season have landed in opposing hands, and nine of the 14 times Oklahoma has given the ball away trace back to him. The Sooners sit at minus-8 in giveaways versus takeaways, a mark that ranks tied for 134th out of 138 programs in FBS.

“We have to eliminate backbreaking errors, catastrophic errors,” Arbuckle said.

He also pointed the finger at himself.

“Ultimately, I’m the one who calls the play out there,” Arbuckle said. “Ultimately, I’m the one who designs it, and if something bad out there happens, I believe it falls back on me.”

Mateer hasn’t had much help up front. Three regular offensive linemen missed the Kentucky game hurt, and Ryan Fodje hurt his ankle during the third period but kept playing.

The Kentucky loss followed a turnover-free effort against then-No. 1 Texas on Oct. 10. Two strong throws on the closing possession set up the walk-off field goal in a 27-24 upset, still Oklahoma’s only SEC win.

On the year, Mateer is 114 of 175 passing, 65.1%, for 1,308 yards and nine touchdowns.

Mateer accounted for 44 touchdowns under Arbuckle at Washington State in 2024, then followed him to Oklahoma, where the Sooners made the College Football Playoff last season.

Next up is Mississippi State, 4-2 and 2-2 in the SEC. A turnover-free game there would make Arbuckle’s point better than any press conference.