UNLV starting quarterback Matthew Sluka has announced he will no longer participate in games this season for the undefeated Rebels, stating that certain commitments made to him were not upheld by the program. Sluka revealed his decision in a late-night social media post, indicating he would use his redshirt for this season.
In his statement on X, Sluka expressed, “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.”
Although he did not provide specifics about his decision, Sluka’s move comes at a time when college athletes are increasingly compensated for their name, image, and likeness through deals with companies or collectives associated with their schools.
According to NCAA redshirt rules, players can retain a year of eligibility if they participate in four or fewer games during a season. Sluka has played four seasons (2020-2023) at Holy Cross before transferring to UNLV this offseason, giving him one additional year of eligibility that he could use at another institution next year, as NCAA regulations prohibit athletes from playing for two schools in the same season.
Currently, UNLV is 3-0 for the first time since 1984 and has gained 53 points in the latest Associated Press poll, just 16 points shy of ranked No. 25 Boise State. The Rebels recorded an upset win against Kansas in Week 3 and started the season with a victory over Houston, showing promise for a possible play in the newly expanded 12-team College Football Playoff.
During his brief tenure with the Rebels, Sluka completed 21 of 48 passes for 318 yards, registering six touchdowns and one interception while also rushing 39 times for 286 yards and a touchdown.
Prior to joining UNLV, Sluka had a successful four-year stint at FCS program Holy Cross, where he set numerous records, including career pass efficiency (147.4) and rushing yards (3,583). He was honored with a record-setting 330 rushing yards for a Division I quarterback in a single game against Lafayette in 2023.
At Holy Cross, Sluka led the team to the FCS playoffs in consecutive seasons in 2021 and 2022 before transferring following a coaching change when head coach Bob Chesney departed for James Madison.
With Sluka’s departure, UNLV may turn to either senior transfer Hajj-Malik Williams or senior Cameron Friel to fill the quarterback position. After a weekend off, the Rebels will host Fresno State in their Mountain West Conference opener this Saturday.
Last season, UNLV finished with a 9-5 record and competed for the Mountain West championship, but their standout quarterback Jayden Maiava has since transferred to USC.