UNLV (3-0) is having its best start to a football season, as the Rebels cracked the coaches Top 25 poll for the first time in program history two weeks ago. UNLV will have to make a run at the Mountain West championship without Sluka, who leads the Rebels in passing and rushing.
UNLV starting quarterback Matthew Sluka is stepping away from the Rebels program and will redshirt with intentions of entering the transfer portal, he announced late Tuesday on social media. Sluka attributed the leave to “certain representations” that the school made to him when he transferred from Holy Cross this offseason.
“I have decided to utilize my redshirt year and will not be playing in any additional games this season,” Sluka said. “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.”
The Rebels are off to a 3-0 start to the 2024 season under Sluka’s watch. In the first three games, Sluka threw for 318 yards and six touchdowns and also added another dynamic as a runner, posting 253 yards rushing and a touchdown.
UNLV is one of the top early contenders to secure the Group of Five bid to the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff. The Rebels are coming off an impressive 23-20 win over Kansas and have another Power Four win over Houston.
With Sluka out, UNLV will turn to Hajj-Malik Williams or Cameron Friel as the starter for the rest of the season. Williams transferred in this past offseason from Campbell, while Friel has been with the program since 2021. Friel played significant snaps as a true freshman during the 2021 season, completing 62.4% of his attempts for 1,608 yards and six touchdowns. He has only attempted 50 passes in the last three seasons since.
UNLV hosts Fresno State on Saturday in its Mountain West Conference opener.
Sluka's Decision and UNLV's Uncertain Future
Sluka’s decision to redshirt and enter the transfer portal has sent shockwaves through the college football world. The senior quarterback was a key piece of UNLV’s success this season and his absence will be felt deeply.
A Sudden Departure
Sluka's departure is particularly surprising given UNLV's strong start to the season. The Rebels, who are ranked No. 23 in the coaches poll, are now without their starting quarterback for their Mountain West conference opener on Saturday at Allegiant Stadium.
The Rebels are in a tough spot. They are a legitimate contender to win the Mountain West Conference and earn a spot in the College Football Playoff, but they will have to do it without their starting quarterback. The Rebels are hoping that one of their backup quarterbacks can step up and fill the void, but it will be a tough task.
Unfulfilled Promises
Sluka's decision to leave UNLV was not made lightly. In his statement, he said that he committed to the team with certain expectations, but those expectations were not met. While he didn't elaborate on the specifics of the broken promises, it's clear that Sluka felt like he was not being treated fairly by the UNLV coaching staff.
The Future of UNLV Football
UNLV has been a program on the rise in recent years, but the Rebels have now lost their starting quarterback for the second time in two years. In 2023, quarterback Jayden Maiava, who led the Rebels to the Mountain West Championship Game, entered the transfer portal. He eventually landed at USC, where he is the backup quarterback.
The Rebels have a tough task ahead of them, but they have shown that they are capable of overcoming adversity. They have a talented roster and a dedicated coaching staff, and they will be looking to prove that they can succeed without Sluka.
A Trend in College Football
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.
A Look Ahead: What's Next for UNLV?
UNLV's next game is a crucial one, as the Rebels will face Fresno State in their Mountain West Conference opener. The Bulldogs are a strong opponent, and UNLV will need to be at their best to get a win.
The Rebels will need to find a way to replace Sluka's production, both in the passing and rushing game. Williams and Friel are both capable quarterbacks, but they will need to step up and play at a high level if UNLV wants to continue its winning ways.
UNLV’s next few weeks will be a real test for the Rebels, and it will be interesting to see how they respond to the loss of their starting quarterback.
The Future of the Transfer Portal
Sluka’s decision to redshirt and enter the transfer portal is a reminder of the impact that the transfer portal has had on college football. The portal has given players more freedom than ever before, and it has led to a lot of player movement in recent years.
The transfer portal has also led to some unprecedented situations, like the one that unfolded at UNLV. The Rebels are a good team, but they are now in a difficult position because of the transfer portal.
It will be interesting to see how the transfer portal continues to shape college football in the coming years.
The situation at UNLV is just one example of how the transfer portal is changing the game. It remains to be seen how the landscape of college football will be altered in the years to come, but one thing is for sure: the transfer portal is here to stay and it will continue to have a major impact on the sport.
