He played college football for the North Carolina Tarheels from 1968 to 1970, during which time he was twice recognized as the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) player of the year.

His football skills earned him a full-ride scholarship to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Matthew McCauley and his brother William donated 250 acres towards the establishment of the University of North Carolina.

[4] As a junior, McCauley began to make his mark as a premier Division I collegiate running back.

A consensus All-America selection and team captain his senior year, McCauley led the ACC in scoring in 1970 with 21 touchdowns.

[10] McCauley's second pro season, 1972, was his best offensive year, in which he gained 675 yards on the ground — the most he would ever record — and another 256 in the air, logging a total of five touchdowns.

[11] McCauley generated no fewer than 296 yards via pass receptions in any of his last six years, snagging more than fifty balls in a season twice.

[8] Out of the game at the age of 33, McCauley retired to Huntington Bay, New York with his wife Tracey and three daughters- Krystin, Brooke and Brittney.