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UNLV starting quarterback Matthew Sluka made a shocking announcement this week when he decided to sit out the remainder of the football season amid the team’s 3-0 start.
Despite having the Rebels positioned to contend as the Group of Five playoff participant, Sluka has opted to redshirt.
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The passer cited “unfulfilled commitments” in his reasoning, saying that the program has failed to meet NIL promises made at the time of his signing.
Matthew Sluka is a senior in his first year with UNLV. After spending four years at FCS school Holy Cross, he made the jump to the FBS.
Through three games, he’d accumulated six passing touchdowns while adding another on the ground while leading his team to victories over the likes of Kansas and Houston.
Just before a conference matchup against Fresno State, he decided to bolt.
Rumors and reports about his decision immediately began to fly. Some claimed he’d been contacted by another school with a better offer. Others said he’d hired an agent and was asking for more money from UNLV.
Through it all, Sluka and his family have insisted that the Rebels are at fault for going back on their word.
Matthew Sluka’s brother blasted the media for spreading lies on Wednesday.
A day after the initial reports came to light, Rob Sluka did what he could to set the record straight.
- X: @rob_sluka
Shortly after this reply, the account was deactivated.
The response and subsequent account deactivation only add to a confusing situation in Las Vegas.
Without Matthew Sluka under center, the Rebels will be forced to rely on reserve signal callers Cameron Friel and Hajj-Malik Williams.
The decision certainly puts UNLV’s playoff contention in danger after they’d ripped of a pair of impressive wins over Power Five football programs.
It will be interesting to see where Sluka goes from here.