UNLV quarterback leaves school, saying promised $100,000 NIL payment wasn't made. Here's how it could have been avoided.

By Weston Blasi

Matthew Sluka was UNLV's starting quarterback and led the team to a 3-0 record so far this season. He won't play in another game for the school.

Matthew Sluka, starting quarterback at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, has opted to sit out the rest of the 2024 college football season after not receiving a $100,000 name, image and likeness payment that he said he was promised when he agreed to transfer to the Rebels last year.

Sluka has played in three games for UNLV this season, leading the team to wins in all three. He won't play in any more games for UNLV and will transfer from the school when he's eligible, according to his agent, Marcus Cromartie.

Cromartie said that at least one member of the UNLV coaching staff verbally promised that Sluka would receive $100,000 for transferring to the school, while adding that "nothing was signed." Sluka received $3,000 in name, image and likeness payments from UNLV's NIL collective, the organization confirmed in a statement.

After the $100,000 did not arrive, the school said it was contacted by Sluka's agent, who demanded payment.

See: The number of millionaire college athletes has tripled. Here are the top 10 earners this year.

UNLV said Wednesday that Sluka's representative made "financial demands upon the University and its NIL collective in order to continue playing."

In a statement, the school continued: "UNLV Athletics interpreted these demands as a violation of the NCAA pay-for-play rules, as well as Nevada state law. UNLV does not engage in such activity, nor does it respond to implied threats. UNLV has honored all previously agreed-upon scholarships for Matthew Sluka."

A university cannot give a direct "pay-for-play" offer to a prospective student-athlete. Instead, schools can offer to help broker NIL deals with third parties under NCAA rules.

Schools are not directly responsible for paying athletes for NIL deals. Instead, athletes are typically paid out from NIL collectives that are often affiliated with the colleges, or with third-party businesses that are unaffiliated with the school.

"The NCAA fully supports college athletes profiting from their NIL, but unfortunately there is little oversight or accountability in the NIL space and far too often promises made to student-athletes are broken," the NCAA said in a Wednesday statement without specifically mentioning Sluka or UNLV.

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The main issue surrounding Sluka's NIL saga at UNLV seems to stem from the alleged offer being made verbally, something that should be avoided, one expert says.

"This is why I advise every client I work with to never make life-changing decisions when the other side says, 'Trust us,'" Darren Heitner, a lawyer who brokers NIL deals for student athletes, said about the breakdown of the alleged deal. "Demand everything in writing."

Since student athletes started being able to make money from NIL deals in 2021, schools and recruiters have been able to promise athletes certain payments or perks when they are looking to enroll in a school, but there's often very little enforcement if a deal that wasn't in writing doesn't work out.

Heitner said one of his collegiate clients is in a similar situation right now.

"Dealing with a situation now for a major prospect who has committed to a school but the NIL collective refuses to put anything in writing and the coaching staff is asking us to trust they'll do what's right. The athlete won't be enrolling without fair, binding terms in writing," he said.

Sluka, by playing in fewer than five games this season, will still have a senior year of eligibility and can play at another school in 2025.

The NCAA's transfer window opens on Dec. 9. Sluka cannot appear in a game for another team until next season.

Also read: If NFL star Tua Tagovailoa retires, here's what happens to his $212 million contract

-Weston Blasi

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09-27-24 0949ET

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