Matthew Sluka transfer controversy: Why QB who 'quit' UNLV midseason landed with James Madison

Matthew Sluka spent the first four years of his collegiate career at Holy Cross, developing into a strong quarterback who had become a third-team FCS All-American. However, after those four years, Sluka's career had some interesting spins.

In the 2024 season, he transferred to UNLV, becoming the team's starting quarterback and leading the Rebels to a 3-0 record in his first three starts. But from there, things unraveled — and it led to him joining the James Madison Dukes as a sixth-year quarterback in 2025.

Sluka's exit from UNLV was a controversial one, as he chose to leave the team early in the 2024 season over apparent NIL disagreements.

Here's what to know about Matthew Sluka landing at James Madison after his NIL dispute at UNLV. 

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Why did Matthew Sluka transfer from UNLV to James Madison?

Over his four years at Holy Cross, Sluka earned the 2023 Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year award, two First-Team All-Patriot League selections and one Second-Team All-Patriot League selection, on top of finishing fourth in voting for the 2023 Walter Payton Award, which is awarded to the FCS’ most outstanding offensive player. He had cemented his place as a top FCS quarterback, and after throwing for 1,728 yards and 20 touchdowns in 2023, he entered the transfer portal.

UNLV landed Sluka, as the quarterback landed with an FBS squad for his fifth collegiate season in 2024. Ahead of the Rebels' Week 1 game, he was named their starting quarterback, and through three games, UNLV remained unbeaten as Sluka had 318 passing yards and six passing touchdowns with one interception. It was UNLV's first 3-0 start in 40 years.

On Sept. 25, 2024, however, everything changed for UNLV's season — Sluka announced that he would redshirt and not play in any more games for the Rebels in the 2024 season to protect his eligibility, as he had not yet played in over four games. In an unprecedented decision, Sluka cited a disagreement over NIL payments as the reasoning for his redshirt decision.

Sluka's X post on his controversial decision went viral, now with over 28 million views, as college football fans criticized him for "quitting" on UNLV after a 3-0 start.

"I have decided to utilize my redshirt year and will not be playing in any additional games this season," 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.

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Sluka's agent, Marcus Cromartie, said the quarterback was "verbally promised" at least $100,000 by an assistant coach before committing to the school in the offseason, but he had received only a $3,000 relocation stipend, per The Athletic. Additionally, Sluka's father, Bob, told The Athletic that two agents negotiated the money over the phone and did not ask for anything extra during "the team’s hot start to the season."

“Essentially they refused, (coach) Barry Odom refused to give us the money,” Matthew's father, Bob Sluka, told The Athletic. “We tried everything. We’d take payments. Anything. And they just kept deferring it and deferring it, and to this day, we do not know why.”

On the other hand, UNLV donor Bill Paulos told The Athletic that there had been no agreement made with Sluka past a $3,000 relocation fee, which was paid out after Sluka made a charity appearance. Paulos said that if there was a $100,000 payment to be made, he would have known about it.

Paulos also said that Matthew Sluka’s agent had emailed UNLV donors on Aug. 28 to introduce himself as Sluka’s representation and ask about discussing possible NIL scenarios, but they responded telling him they couldn’t engage because he was not registered in Nevada.

UNLV released a statement that said Sluka’s agent made “financial demands."

“UNLV Athletics interpreted these demands as a violation of the NCAA’s pay-for-play rules, as well as Nevada state law,” the school's statement said, per The Athletic. “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.”

The company that operates UNLV's NIL collective, Blueprint Sports, also said it did not make Sluka a formal NIL offer as a recruit.

“We would like to emphasize that we have upheld all Friends of UNILV contracts this season, and have not defaulted on any agreements with Mr. Sluka,” Blueprint Sports said in the statement, per The Athletic.

Sluka's decision was considered unprecedented not just for its financial reasonings, but also because players typically only redshirt if they don't see much playing time, or get injured. Instead, the quarterback chose to sit out the rest of the 2024 season despite being a starter on a 3-0 team. At the time, UNLV carried a potential chance to earn the Group of 5 playoff spot in the 2024 College Football Playoff.

Sluka wound up sticking by his redshirt decision, and Hajj-Malik Williams became UNLV's new starting quarterback. The Rebels finished with an 11-3 record, losing in the Mountain West Championship game to Boise State, but beating Cal in the LA Bowl.

In January 2025, Sluka made his exit from UNLV official after his redshirt, as James Madison announced the quarterback had signed a letter of intent to play for the Dukes in the 2025 season.

However, Sluka did not start for James Madison in 2025, as Alonza Barnett III earned the QB1 role.

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Matthew Sluka stats 

Here's a look at Matthew Sluka's numbers over six college seasons.

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Matthew Sluka recruiting

Matthew Sluka, who is from Locust Valley, New York and attended Kellenberg Memorial High School, was not rated by 247Sports out of high school, but as a 2025 transfer, he was given a three-star rating.

Standing 6-foot-3, the quarterback was praised for "athleticism in the run game" and "being able to extend plays in and outside the pocket," by 247Sports recruiting analyst Cooper Petagna, but criticized as "streaky as a passer."

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