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Ohio State blows out Indiana, 38-15. Now, it's time to do the same to That Team Up North.
UNLV quarterback Matthew Sluka announced Wednesday that he will not play in any more Rebels games in 2024.
In a post on X, Sluka explained that the program did not uphold "certain representations" made to him before he transferred to UNLV from Holy Cross. Sluka plans to utilize his redshirt year and transfer to another school for the 2025 season.
— Matthew Sluka (@MatthewSluka) September 25, 2024
"I committed to UNLV based on certain representations that were made to me, which were not upheld after I enrolled," Sluka stated. "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."
Sluka’s agent, Marcus Cromartie of Equity Sports, told ESPN’s Pete Thamel that Sluka was verbally promised a minimum of $100,000 from a UNLV assistant coach to transfer there, but Sluka has not received any payments. While a report from Paloma Villicana of FOX5, who hosts the RebZone Sports Show with UNLV coach Barry Odom, indicated that Sluka was offered more money to preserve his final year of eligibility and transfer elsewhere next season, Sluka’s father told Adam Rittenberg of ESPN that Sluka never asked for any adjustments to his original deal with UNLV.
"We have no idea what the hell happened," Bob Sluka told Rittenberg of his son not being paid.
Cromartie told Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger that Sluka was promised $100,000 during his recruitment from UNLV offensive coordinator Brennan Marion, but there was no signed contract between Sluka and UNLV’s collective, FriendsOfUNILV. Blueprint Sports, which operates the collective, told Dellenger that it did not have a contract with Sluka but offered to pay him $3,000 a month, which Sluka and his camp did not view as fair compensation.
Can Matthew Sluka return to UNLV?
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) September 25, 2024
His agent, Marcus Cromartie, tells @YahooSports: Its up to Barry Odom. Matt has been open to wanting to play football, but $3,000 a month for the next four months just isnt fair.
Background here - https://t.co/6QwYnYlRnh
UNLV said in a statement on Wednesday that “Sluka’s representative made financial demands upon the University and its NIL collective in order to continue playing,” which UNLV interpreted “as a violation of the NCAA pay-for-play rules, as well as Nevada state law.” The collective said “there were no formal NIL offers made during Mr. Sluka’s recruitment process” and that it has “not defaulted on any agreements with Mr. Sluka.”
UNLV statement on Matthew Slukas departure and allegations. pic.twitter.com/wnNVmtQcIr
— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) September 25, 2024
Full statement here from Friends of UNLV Collective. pic.twitter.com/WtWKAVZ6yi
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) September 25, 2024
UNLV is 3-0 for the first time since 1984 and received 53 total points in the latest AP Poll — just 16 points behind No. 25 Boise State. The Rebels' wins came over Houston, Utah Tech and Kansas, establishing them as a contender for the Group of 5’s College Football Playoff berth.
Those hopes have now taken a hit with the departure of Sluka, who completed 21 of 48 passes for 318 yards and six touchdowns with one interception and rushed 39 times for 286 yards and one score in UNLV’s first three games.
Before he transferred to UNLV, Sluka spent four years at Holy Cross, where he ranks first in career pass efficiency (147.4), second in career rushing yards (3,583), second in career rushing touchdowns (38), fifth in career passing yards (5,916) and fifth in career passing touchdowns (59). He rushed for an NCAA Division I quarterback record 330 yards in a loss to Lafayette in 2023.
