This story was updated to add new information
UNLV football is out to its best start since 1984 at 3-0 with wins Power Four against Kansas and Houston, but the Rebels are undergoing a quarterback change.
Late Tuesday night, starting quarterback Matt Sluka announced on X (formerly Twitter) that he is opting to use the remainder of the 2024 college football season as a redshirt year.
Sluka noted in his post that certain commitments made to him before enrolling at UNLV from Holy Cross this past offseason were not being upheld and fulfilled.
Sluka’s decision to redshirt for the remainder of the 2024 college football season comes at a time when UNLV is currently on path to making the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff as a Group of Five selection. As noted by USA TODAY, Sluka’s decision also allows him to transfer once the transfer portal opens up on Dec. 9.
And so, curiosity has risen since Sluka’s announcement of whether he is transferring from UNLV and if both parties are in an NIL dispute.
Here’s what to know:
Matt Sluka-UNLV NIL dispute
Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) has changed the landscape of college athletics, as has been showcased by the increase in numbers of players entering the transfer portal the last few seasons as their production on the gridiron (at a mid-major) increased their market value for compensation.
That was the case with Sluka, as his successes at Holy Cross led to his transfer to UNLV. However, according to ESPN’s college football insider Pete Thamel, the Rebels haven’t fulfilled their end of the NIL agreement with the dual-threat quarterback.
Thamel reported that Sluka was verbally promised by one of UNLV’s assistant coaches a minimum $100,000 NIL package if he transferred from Holy Cross to the Rebels. UNLV has yet to pay Sluka for any of that.
Thamel, who spoke with Sluka’s NIL representative, went on to report that ‘there was no effort by UNLV’s collective’ to formalize an NIL contract with Sluka for the verbally promised $100,000 once he enrolled at UNLV. UNLV and its NIL collective countered with a contract of $3,000 per month for the next four months, per Thamel. When totaled up, the counter contract is $88,000 less than what Sluka was promised before his transfer.
Sluka’s NIL representative Marcus Cromartie of Equity Sports told Thamel that the only payment Sluka has received was his $3,000 relocation stipend.
Sluka’s father, Bob Sluka, told ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg that UNLV originally told the quarterback when he reported this summer that he would receive his NIL contract in a payment plan. However, UNLV deferred the start of the payment plan twice, first until classes for the fall semester started and then until UNLV’s first game on Aug. 31 at Houston.
‘They keep deferring, ‘We don’t know. You have to wait,” Bob Sluka told Rittenberg in a statement. ‘Then it was like, ‘We’re going to give him game checks.’ So we’re like, ‘OK, great.’ We did not ask for a single dollar [more].’
Rob Sine, who is the CEO of Blueprint Sports and operates UNLV’s NIL collective, told Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger that the collective never agreed with Sluka on a $100,000 NIL contract.
UNLV statement
UNLV Athletics released the following statement Wednesday afternoon:
‘Football player Matthew Sluka’s representative made financial demands upon the University and its NIL collective in order to continue playing. UNLV Athletics interpreted these demands as a violation of the NCAA pay-for-play rules, as well as Nevada state law. UNLV does not engage in such activity, nor does it respond to implied threats,’ UNLV Athletics said in a statement.
‘UNLV has honored all previously agreed-upon scholarships for Matthew Sluka. UNLV has conducted its due diligence and will continue to operate its programs within the framework of NCAA rules and regulations, as well as Nevada state laws.’
Blueprint Sports, which oversees UNLV’s collective, also released a statement saying no commitments were made via NBC’s Nicole Auerbach.
Is Matt Sluka transferring?
No, at least Sluka didn’t say that in his statement, at this time. Instead, Sluka will use the remainder of the 2024 college football season as a redshirt year, meaning he will have one more year of eligibility next year.
The NCAA currently allows those who play college football to play up to four regular-season games before deciding whether they would like to take a redshirt year or not, for whatever reason.
Who is UNLV football’s backup?
Senior quarterback Hajj-Malik Williams is listed as UNLV’s backup, as noted in the Rebels’ game notes for Saturday’s game vs. Fresno State.
Like Sluka, Williams transferred into UNLV over the offseason through the transfer portal from Campbell University. Last season at Campbell, which competes in the FCS, Williams put up career-high numbers across the board, including passing yards (2,597), touchdowns (19) and completion percentage (70%).
Behind Williams in the depth chart is senior Cameron Friel.
Matt Sluka eligibility
Sluka is listed as a senior on UNLV’s official roster, and is in his fifth college football season. Following this redshirt season he will have one year of eligibility remaining.
Matt Sluka stats
In three games this season at UNLV, Sluka completed 21 of 48 of his passes for 318 yards with six touchdowns and an interception. He has also rushed for 253 yards and a touchdown on 39 carries.
Here’s a year-by-year breakdown on his collegiate stats:
2020 (Holy Cross): 20 of 35 (57%) passing for 187 yards with two touchdowns and an interception; 44 carries for 234 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns
2021 (Holy Cross): 117 of 208 (56%) passing for 1,512 yards with 11 touchdowns and five interceptions; 166 carries for 868 rushing yards and 14 rushing touchdowns
2022 (Holy Cross): 153 of 266 (58%) passing for 2,489 yards with 26 touchdowns and four interceptions; 203 carries for 1,234 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns
2023 (Holy Cross): 122 of 197 (62%) passing for 1,728 yards with 20 touchdowns and five interceptions; 186 carries for 1,247 rushing yards with nine touchdowns
2024 (UNLV): 21 of 48 (44%) passing for 318 yards with six touchdowns and an interception; 39 carries for 253 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown