Yahoo Sports’ Jason Fitz reacts to the Rebels’ starting quarterback’s decision to leave the team over claims of unfulfilled verbal NIL promises and discusses how this decision could affect college football moving forward.
Video Transcript
Un LV, quarterback Matthew Sluka took to social media to let the world know he is stepping away from the team because the team made commitments to him that they have not fulfilled.
Now, multiple reports are conflicting about what this is about.
But I think we all know it’s probably usually about money and it creates an interesting precedent for college football moving forward.
I realize many of you haven’t been paying attention to UN LV football, but I’m a Vegas kid.
So I have been, I watch this team every week and the reality of it is in the new college football playoff landscape.
The highest ranked group of five team goes to the playoff automatically.
UN LV has a very real shot at being that team in order to do that, they need to win every game and win that game, those games convincingly that includes starting conference play against Fresno State this weekend, a massive game.
Plus at the same time conference realignment, there are all sorts of conferences looking at UN LV right now.
All eyes on the program now for Sluka, this is week three, he has the chance by stepping away now to preserve his red shirt year, which will continue his college football eligibility.
So I understand the timing, but let’s not get it twisted.
This is the first of what could become a regular thing for athletes that may not have a future in the NFL and want to maximize their college football earning potential.
There isn’t an easy solution to this, but the fact is what prevents any kid before a playoff game before a big moment from saying, hey, I think I deserve more.
And until I get I’m not going to play or hey, you told me I was gonna get certain things and I haven’t gotten them if I don’t get them now, I’m not going to play.
This is a perfect time for Sluka personally to take this leverage because it’s terrible timing for UN LV.
But what we all need to keep an eye on is what the college football landscape looks like moving forward because this is something that we could see more of, not less of over the years.
UN LV is a trendsetter in this situation in every way that they don’t want to be part of the conversation.
