For the second consecutive season, the UNLV Rebels have lost their starting quarterback. Yet, this time, it isn’t a postseason departure via the transfer portal following a standout campaign.
Late Tuesday night, Matthew Sluka announced that he will take a redshirt year and won’t play again. What happened here, and what does it mean for a team with genuine CFB Playoff potential?
Why Has Matthew Sluka Left UNLV?
After leading UNLV to its first 3-0 start since 1984, starting quarterback Sluka won’t play for the Rebels again in 2024. He made the announcement via social media platform “X”, sending shockwaves through the Mountain West outfit and the entire college football world, many of whom are waking up on Wednesday to one of the more confusing stories of the year.
— Matthew Sluka (@MatthewSluka) September 25, 2024
While not implicitly stated, Sluka’s post hints at a dissatisfaction around NIL agreements made to the former Holy Cross Crusader prior to his arrival at UNLV. The assumption is that the Rebels had agreed on a specific amount of NIL funds to lure the reigning Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year to Las Vegas once he entered the transfer portal at the end of the 2023 season.
If that is the case, it won’t be the first time in this new era of college football that we’ve seen unfulfilled NIL deals cause a player to renege on their commitment to a program.
There are shades of the Jaden Rashada fiasco here. The highly rated high school commit was reportedly promised big money from Florida that never materialized, and he never landed at UF.
However, there is more at play with the Sluka situation. Reports suggest that the UNLV quarterback has been offered a higher NIL offer to play elsewhere next year. Without redshirting the 2024 season, the former FCS All-American would be out of eligibility and, therefore, unable to capitalize on his earning potential.
Players being unhappy in their current environment and opting to leave is nothing new. Protecting eligibility is nothing new, either. Dana Holgorsen infamously redshirted swathes of his Houston Cougars team to keep them in the program for another year.
However, Sluka is the starting quarterback for a 3-0 UNLV team that is experiencing unprecedented success. Barry Odom’s team is not only undefeated but has also beaten two Power Four programs and has a legitimate path to the College Football Playoff. If they can overcome one of the toughest Mountain West schedules, a conference crown and postseason berth await.
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While many considered that Sluka would simply follow Holy Cross head coach Bob Chesney to the James Madison Dukes, his capture by UNLV to replace Jayden Maiava was considered a coup for the Rebels, and early returns had been promising.
Although his passing numbers (318 total yards, 6.6 yards per attempt) don’t grab the attention, Sluka led the Mountain West in yards per completion, and 12.5% of his pass attempts resulted in a score.
So, aside from the wider implications for the college football landscape, what happens now for UNLV?
Who Will Replace Sluka at UNLV?
Sluka wasn’t the only FCS transfer quarterback that the Rebels added to their roster this offseason. Former Campbell Camel dual-threat Hajj-Malik Williams joined UNLV ahead of the 2024 college campaign and was listed as the QB2 for Odom’s team in the early week depth chart. Meanwhile, Cameron Friel is a veteran at the program with 10 starts since 2021.
While you never want to lose your starting quarterback, this isn’t necessarily a disaster for UNLV. Before examining the potential replacement options for a pivotal Mountain West clash with the Fresno State Bulldogs and beyond, it’s worth noting that the Rebels offense has utilized the passing game less than any other FBS college football program that isn’t a service academy.
In fact, the Navy Midshipmen, fresh off a season-defining win over the Memphis Tigers, have averaged more passing yards per game (163.3) than the Rebels have tallied (130.0) through three games of the season with two more pass attempts.
This UNLV offense, for all its star power in wide receiver duo Ricky White III and Jacob De Jesus, succeeds on the foundations of a dominant ground game. Including Sluka, they have four players with over 100 rushing yards heading into Week 5, and that doesn’t include talented sophomore Jai’Den Thomas. Seven different rushers have found the end zone.
As a result, UNLV ranks fifth in the nation for rushing yards per game (293.33) after averaging the third-most rushing attempts (52.67) per game. This is why Williams makes the most sense as the starter going forward and why, despite losing their starting QB, the Rebels might avoid a catastrophic collapse.
The talented dual-threat is a great fit for Brennan Marion’s offense. He has the ability to maneuver in the pocket, evade pressure, and make plays with his legs — just watch the 2022 Jackson State game.
Meanwhile, as Campbell’s all-time passing yards and touchdowns leader, Williams presents a threat through the air and has the receiving weapons and offensive line that can help him succeed this year.
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