UNLV QB Matthew Sluka says he will not play again this season.

Sluka said in a social media post that he would redshirt the remainder of the season due to broken promises that were apparently made to him. Sluka has been the Rebels’ starting QB for the first three games of the season, as UNLV has opened the season 3-0 with wins over Houston and Kansas.

The obvious conclusion to draw from Sluka’s post is that he was told he would receive some name, image and likeness compensation that he did not receive. If that is the case, he would be the first and most notable player to retire mid-season due to NIL commitments. Current Georgia QB Jaden Rashada ended up at Arizona State for his freshman season after a NIL deal with Florida fell apart. That drama, however, played out before Rashada had a chance to step on the field for the Gators.

Sluka took over as UNLV’s starting quarterback as the Rebels had to look to the transfer portal to replace last year’s starting QB, Jayden Maiava. Maiava emerged as the team’s starting quarterback as a freshman and threw for over 3,000 yards as UNLV advanced to its first bowl game since 2013.

However, he entered the transfer portal at the end of the season and briefly committed to Georgia. After decommitting from the Bulldogs, Maiava ended up at USC and is now the No. 2 QB behind Miller Moss.

Sluka is a fifth-year senior who spent the first four seasons of his career at Holy Cross. He was 122-of-197 passing for 1,723 yards and 20 TDs against just five interceptions in 2023. Players can redshirt and appear in up to four games, so Sluka could play a sixth season of college football in 2025 as long as he doesn’t appear in two more games this season.

Without Sluka available, UNLV’s top two QBs are Cameron Friel and Hajj-Malik Williams. Friel has thrown one pass this season, and both saw playing time in the team’s win over Utah Tech.