UNLV quarterback Matthew Sluka quit his undefeated football team on Tuesday, claiming undisclosed ‘commitments’ to him weren’t fulfilled in what could be first midseason pay dispute in the sport’s history.
While college athletes are not directly paid by universities, the NCAA in 2021 opened the door for players to profit from their name, likeness and image (NIL), in deals that can be facilitated by the schools.
Sluka enrolled at UNLV this year after four solid seasons at Holy Cross, which competes at the secondary level of college football. He has a fifth year of eligibility due to the Covid pandemic ruining much of the 2020 season.
By quitting UNLV (3-0) before playing in his fourth Las Vegas game, Sluka preserves that year of eligibility and could play elsewhere in 2025.
“I have decided to utilize my redshirt year and will not be playing in any additional games this season,” Sluka wrote on Instagram Tuesday.
“I committed to UNLV based on certain representations that were made to me, which were not upheld after I enrolled. Despite discussions, it became clear that these commitments would not be fulfilled in the future. I wish my teammates the best of luck this season and hope for the continued success of the program.”
While Sluka didn’t detail what “commitments” were not fulfilled, an agent representing the player told The Associated Press that his client had been promised a $100,000 NIL payment that was never paid.
The departure could not have come at a worse time for UNLV, which had won three games to open the season, including a nationally televised triumph at Kansas on Sept. 13.
UNLV is also at the heart of fast-moving conference affiliation shifts with schools playing musical chairs and changing leagues to chase maximum TV profits.
The Rebels now play in the Mountain West Conference which will soon lose Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State and Utah State to the rebuilt Pac-12, which was torn to shreds by its legacy schools bolting to the Big Ten, Big 12 and ACC.
The Rebels play host to Fresno State on Saturday afternoon.
