By Oliver Thomas, Guest Writer
The college football world was shocked when the news broke that University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) quarterback Matthew Sluka would be entering the transfer portal.
The news was unexpected for UNLV fans as Sluka had led the Rebels to a 3-0 start, including two wins over the University of Houston and the University of Kansas. The Rebels were in a prime position to make the College Football Playoffs, so with their quarterback leaving midseason, the answer for his departure is simple: money.
In Sluka’s case, he was reportedly promised a six figure name, image and likeness (NIL) deal from UNLV. Reportedly, Sluka only received $3,000, leading him to redshirt and enter the transfer portal to maintain his final year of eligibility.
The college football world was outraged at Sluka, calling him selfish and greedy for leaving his thriving team amidst a historically good start.
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) began the name, image and likeness policy in 2021, which has brought numerous problems.
Sluka is not at fault here. He made a decision to ensure his success, but also money. Since he would have completed his football career this year, Sluka was in the middle of the peak of his earning window. Allegedly, a six figure deal was never ensured – just a promise from an assistant coach who didn’t follow through.
All this falls on the NCAA, who allowed NIL to be a part of college athletics in July 2021 without setting any rules around it. Recruiting has now turned into bidding wars in college football and basketball, with players in both sports reportedly receiving multimillion dollar deals.
However, these deals are never official, as these players are being paid through the schools’ boosters, individuals, organizations or entities that promote an institution’s intercollegiate athletics programs. The rich schools have only continued to get richer, while the smaller schools, with less wealthy boosters fall.
The first step is implementing revenue sharing. Though it would be complicated to set into motion, there is no denying that each school should receive similar funds allotted for NIL. It is unsustainable for college athletics to have a massive gap between school NIL allotments.
The next step is allowing players to unionize. One issue behind the current situation is that these deals are nothing but empty promises made by coaches. With some athletes making seven figures, they need to have official contracts. Players should be treated as workers if they are making so much. These college athletes deserve the same rights and benefits that workers receive.
We are currently going through a massive transition period within collegiate athletics. To save college sports, it is important that the NCAA works to set rules around NIL. The story of Matthew Sluka is one that college athletics cannot afford to see. The entire situation surrounding Sluka is unfair toward his team, fans and the whole college football world. The NCAA needs to find a way to create stability before stories like Matthew Sluka’s become more common.