UNLV starting quarterback Matthew Sluka announced on social media Tuesday night that he will redshirt and not play in any of the Rebels’ remaining games this season.
In a post on X, Sluka wrote: “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.”
— Matthew Sluka (@MatthewSluka) September 25, 2024
The Rebels are 3-0 and have been one of the feel-good stories of college football over the past two years. The program had two winning seasons from 2000 through 2022. Barry Odom won nine games in his first season as Rebels coach and has scored two wins over Big 12 competition with Sluka as his starting quarterback this season.
The Group of 5 is guaranteed at least one spot in the expanded 12-team playoff and UNLV has one of the best resumes among those programs with wins over Kansas and Houston.
Sluka transferred to UNLV this offseason after spending the previous four years at Holy Cross, an FCS program. In 2023, he was named Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year after he passed for 1,728 yards and 20 touchdowns and rushed for 1,247 yards. He finished fourth in voting for the Walter Payton Award, which is awarded to the FCS’ most outstanding offensive player.
Through three games this season, Sluka leads UNLV in passing and rushing. He has thrown for 318 yards, six touchdowns and one interception and rushed for 253 yards and a touchdown.
UNLV reached the Mountain West Championship Game for the first time in 2023. Quarterback Jayden Maiava spearheaded the Rebels’ run and was named 2023 Mountain West Freshman of the Year. He entered the transfer portal this offseason and was pursued by high-profile programs like Georgia and USC. He eventually decided to play for the Trojans and is the backup to Miller Moss.
Now UNLV has lost its starting quarterback again, but this time within the first month of the season and with a tough Fresno State team traveling to Las Vegas to face the Rebels on Saturday afternoon.
The in-season decision to redshirt and preserve eligibility for a potential transfer has become a trend across college football over the past two seasons. Players can play in four games and still redshirt a season.
In the past, though, these sorts of moves have been made by players who are buried on the depth chart and aren’t receiving meaningful snaps. It hasn’t come from the starting quarterback of a 3-0 team that has a legitimate shot to win its conference.
So this is another unprecedented situation in this age of free transfer portal movement and NIL decisions.
(Photo: Kyle Rivas / Getty Images)
