UNLV quarterback Matthew Sluka is calling an early end to his 2024 season in a move that could prove consequential for college athletics in the NIL era.
After guiding the Rebels to a 3-0 start to the season, the fifth-year senior is taking a redshirt year and apparently intends to enter transfer portal.
‘I committed to UNLV based on certain representations that were made to me, which were not upheld after I enrolled,’ he wrote on social media. ‘Despite discussions, it became clear that these commitments would not be fulfilled in the future.’
Although Sluka wished his UNLV teammates ‘the best of luck this season,’ fans were nonetheless outraged at his perceived reference to an abandoned name, image and likeness (NIL) deal. Such agreements have been permitted by the NCAA since 2021 and allow amateurs to earn endorsement money from third parties without risking their eligibility.
Those third parties – typically groups of boosters and investors known as collectives – are not allowed to make the NIL deal contingent on the athletes’ enrolment in a particular school. But, as fans were outraged to discover this week, athletes can make their attendance contingent on compensation.
UNLV quarterback Matthew Sluka is calling an early end to his 2024 season
Sluka recently graduated from Holy Cross before enrolling at UNLV as a fifth-year senior
DailyMail.com requested clarification from Sluka’s representative but did not receive an immediate response Wednesday morning.
In the absence of any clarity from Sluka or his team, fans were quick to judge the graduate transfer from Holy Cross.
‘Someone in your corner, telling you this is the move, didn’t do you any favors,’ one fan wrote on X.
‘NIL ruined the fabric of College Football,’ another added.
Most of the arguments against Sluka’s decision were summed up by an X user referring to himself as Red Raider Man: ‘Quitting in the middle of the season is crazy.’
Others focus on the potential ramifications from Sluka’s decision.
‘NIL landscape folks, real sh*tty these players can do this,’ one angry fan wrote. ‘Such a shame NIL isn’t banned anymore.’
‘This isn’t the first time or last time something like this will happen,’ another added.
Fans were outraged to learn athletes can make enrollment contingent on compensation
Fans were quick to judge Sluka, although he never specifically mentioned any NIL deal
Attorney Darren Heitner, who negotiates NIL deals for college athletes, defended Sluka
But not everyone was lining up to kick Sluka on his way out the door.
Darren Heitner, a Florida attorney who works with college athletes on NIL deals, was quick to point the finger back at Sluka’s critics.
‘Already know ppl will be triggered by an athlete standing on business when others failed to keep their promises,’ Heitner wrote, adding an ‘#NIL’ hashtag.
A dual-threat quarterback from the North Shore of Long Island, Sluka guided UNLV to an upset of Houston on August 31, followed by a 72-point outburst against lowly Utah Tech the following week.
But it was UNLV’s September 13 shocker over Kansas that helped the Rebels sneak into the AFCA Coaches’ Top-25 poll.
Sluka’s backup is senior Cameeron Friel, who played extensively as a freshman in 2021 but has seen reduced snaps ever since.
A department spokesperson did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com’s request for comment.
