Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 2 games
| Wk | Opp | REC | YDS | AVG | TD | LONG | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 2 | L 0-52@ Notre Dame | 1 | 6 | 6.0 | 0 | 6 | |
| Wk 3 | L 21-28vs Western Michigan | 1 | 25 | 25.0 | 0 | 25 | Season-high 25 yds |
| Total | 2 | 31 | 15.5 | 0 | 25 |
#23
Payton Matthews
Sophomore wide receiver for Rice. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
5′11″ · 185 lb · San Antonio, TX · Harlan
The numbers
31
receiving yards · 2026 · through week 3
2 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 1 rec, 25 yds, vs Western Michigan
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
Sophomore wide receiver for Rice. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
- Signed as a 3-star recruit to Rice in 2025.
Payton Matthews
He has spent two seasons in the Rice receiving corps. The receipt on tape: 25 rec yds, 1 receptions against Western Michigan, Week 3, 2026.
31 REC YDS · 2 REC · 0 REC TD
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- seasons on the roster
- game log
His career
20254 games
- Signed with Rice3-star out of San Antonio Harlan
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★★
CFB
College
Rice
NFL
NFL Draft
—
Career stats
Game log
2026 snapshot
Since week 2: +25 receiving yards, +1 catch.
Season context · Team result + system
2 seasons under Scott Abell — 6-10 over that span.
2025Rice5-8HC: Scott Abell · Run-heavy
2026Rice1-2HC: Scott Abell · Run-heavy, slow tempo
Where this profile ranks vs the WR cohort
Box-score percentiles
Concern: rec yards (0th percentile).
Box-score rates (5)
Percentiles versus same-position peers with enough snaps this season, based on box-score rates.
Splits & context
Splits
Per-game splits
Through 2 games: 1.0 REC/g, 15.5 YDS/g, 15.5 YPR, 0.0 TD/g — splits start at 3 games.
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Scott Abell
Pass share
21.5%
40 pass / 146 run
Plays / game
62.0
3 games
Team sack rate
4.5%
44 dropbacks · PBP
Scheme: Run-heavy, slow tempo.
Awards
Player standing · 2026
Backup
On the two-deep and pushing for snaps.
Roster2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex
Starter
The No. 2,642 recruit in the country is starting at receiver in the American Athletic as a sophomore.
Background
Honors American Conference All-Academic 2026 Pronunciation Guide 2025 True freshman who took on an increasing role as the season progressed, catching four passes for 93 yards and setting up the Owls’ touchdown in the Armed Forces Bowl with a career-best 54-yard completion from Patrick Crayton Jr....
The receiver room · Rice
- Payton Matthews93 receiving yards · 2025
- #81Braylen Walker49 receiving yards · 2025
- #88Keenan Arcega-Whiteside8 receiving yards · 2025
- #5Davis Lane Jr.2 games · 2026
- #13Max Mosey2 games · 2026
13 more on the roster · Rice team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology