DAVIS, Calif. — Senior wide receiver Samuel Gbatu Jr. earned a spot on the 2026 Walter Payton Award Preseason Watch List, Stats Perform announced Tuesday. Stats Perform presents the Walter Payton Award annually to the nation's top offensive player in NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). The organization unveiled this year's preseason watch list as the award begins its 40th anniversary season in 2026.

Gbatu returns after leading the Big Sky Conference in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns while starting all 13 games as a team captain. He finished second nationally in receiving yards, sixth in receiving touchdowns and seventh in receiving yards per game, topping the 100-yard mark seven times.

His breakout season earned First Team All-Big Sky, Second Team AFCA All-America and Second Team FCS Football Central All-America honors.

Gbatu becomes the first UC Davis receiver to earn a spot on the Walter Payton Award Preseason Watch List since Keelan Doss in 2018.

The Aggies open the 2026 season on Aug. 29 at Portland State before returning home for six games inside UC Davis Health Stadium.

BUY 2026 SINGLE GAME TICKETS
Single game tickets are on sale now. Secure your seats for any of UC Davis' six home games today.

BUY 2026 MINI PLANS
Mini Plans offer a great way to save by bundling multiple games. Choose from two different options and select the games that fit your schedule.
Both Mini Plan options include the Montana game and allow fans to add one or two additional home games at a discounted rate compared to purchasing single-game tickets. All Mini Plan seats are located in Sections 119 or 125 on the west side of UC Davis Health Stadium.

BUY 2026 SEASON TICKETS
Season tickets start at just $100 for new alumni (2017–26 UC Davis graduates) and $140 for the general public. Season ticket holders also receive a variety of exclusive benefits, including priority access to postseason tickets, select away games and parking.

Additional benefits include a dedicated Aggie Ticket Representative, flexible payment plan options and invitations to exclusive season ticket holder events. Purchase your season tickets today. For more information, email the Aggie Ticket Office at aggietickets@ucdavis.edu or call (530) 752-2471.

BUY 2026 GROUP TICKETS
Group ticket discounts begin with just 10 tickets and provide the perfect opportunity for company outings, family gatherings, birthday celebrations and more.
Create a memorable birthday experience with a player high-five tunnel or reserve a turnkey tailgate space for your group before kickoff. Call the Aggie Ticket Office at (530) 752-2471 to customize an unforgettable game-day experience.

BUY 2026 TAILGATE/PARKING SPOTS
For more information about purchasing tailgating or parking for the 2026 season, contact Jordan Kurtz at (530) 304-1433 or jkurtz@ucdavis.edu.