Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 2 games
| Wk | Opp | REC | YDS | AVG | TD | LONG | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 45-24@ California | 4 | 88 | 22.0 | 0 | 43 | Season-high 88 yds |
| Wk 2 | W 28-10vs San Diego State | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Total | 4 | 88 | 22.0 | 0 | 43 |
Senior wide receiver for UCLA. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
5′8″ · 182 lb · Irvine, CA · Mission Viejo HS / California
CFB Index
A single number blending on-field production (an EPA-based value lane) with box-score output for this player's position.
0-100, scaled within each position's own cohort — not directly comparable across positions.
The numbers
receiving yards · 2026 · through week 3
2 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 4 rec, 88 yds, at California
The play that turned itSwung UCLA from 50% to 83% to win.Maryland at UCLA · 20-17
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
Senior wide receiver for UCLA. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
Mikey Matthews
Moves the chains on third down. Across four seasons and three programs, four head coaches: Kyle Whittingham, Justin Wilcox, Tim Skipper and Bob Chesney. The receipt on tape: 88 rec yds, 4 receptions against California, Week 1, 2026.
88 REC YDS · 4 REC · 0 REC TD
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
His career
3 programs, one constant: he played.
Career arc
Coaching lineage · 2023–2026
4 coachesPlayed under 4 different head coaches: Chip Kelly, Deshaun Foster, Tim Skipper, and Bob Chesney. Multi-era developmental context.
| Season | Team | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | UCLA | 4 | 88 | 22.0 | 0 | -- |
| 2025 | UCLA | 33 | 348 | 10.5 | 2 | -- |
| 2024 | California | 34 | 292 | 8.6 | 1 | -- |
| 2023 | Utah | 29 | 261 | 9.0 | 0 | -- |
| Career | 100 | 989 | 9.9 | 3 | -- |
| Season | Team | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | UCLA | -- | -- | -- | 53 | -- |
| 2025 | UCLA | 1 | 1 | 28 | 47 | -- |
| 2024 | California | 7 | 29 | -- | 67 | -- |
| 2023 | Utah | 1 | 4 | 309 | 75 | -- |
| Career | 9 | 34 | 337 | 242 | -- |
Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 2 games
| Wk | Opp | REC | YDS | AVG | TD | LONG | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 45-24@ California | 4 | 88 | 22.0 | 0 | 43 | Season-high 88 yds |
| Wk 2 | W 28-10vs San Diego State | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Total | 4 | 88 | 22.0 | 0 | 43 |
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 1 · 2026
W 45–24
at California
4 rec · 88 yds
Dominant 21-point win on the road against California.
With C. Gerrand — 43 yards per punt · 5 punts · 3 inside the 20 · W. Knight — 71 rush yds (8 car) · 3 TD
Season context · Team result + system
Where this profile ranks vs the WR cohort
Box-score percentiles
Elite: yards / catch (96th percentile). Concern: receptions (0th percentile).
Percentiles versus same-position peers with enough snaps this season, based on box-score rates.
Splits
Per-game splits
Through 2 games: 2.0 REC/g, 44.0 YDS/g, 22.0 YPR, 0.0 TD/g — splits start at 3 games.
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Bob Chesney
Pass share
39.0%
76 pass / 119 run
Plays / game
65.0
3 games
Team sack rate
5.7%
87 dropbacks · PBP
Scheme: Run-heavy.
Player standing · 2026
On the two-deep and pushing for snaps.
Recognition
2026 outlook
Outside shot for All-Big Ten
Based on 2025: #42 of 61 Big Ten WRs
15% estimated, 95% confidence interval 13–17%. Base rate measured from players who finished at a comparable rank in their conference and came back the next season. It is an estimate from a small sample, not a forecast of this player.
Play style
Reliable target who converts on critical downs. Not flashy; consistently productive.
CFB Index positional classification
Player DNA
Reliable target who converts on critical downs. Not flashy; consistently productive.
His 2025 production profile sits closest to Gage Larvadain’s 2024 season.
Matches Gage on
Differs from Gage on
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a junior, his production profile tracks closest to Mario Williams's junior season at USC (2023).
Matches Mario on
Differs from Mario on
Player DNA
Career Summary Matthews has played 37 games and made 14 starts over three seasons at UCLA (2025), California (2024) and Utah (2023) … has totaled 94 receptions for 881 yards and three touchdowns in his career … has averaged 9.37 yards per catch and 23.8 yards per game … has notched 25-plus…
11 more on the roster · UCLA team page