Matthew Sluka makes portal transfer decision after controversial UNLV departure

A few months after NIL shocked the world leaving the UNLV football teamMatthew Sluka found a new home. The infamous quarterback redshirted the 2024 season and entered the college football transfer portal at the end of the year, where he pledged to spent the sixth year at James Madison, according to Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports.

Sluka also visited Liberty and Memphis before making his official decision. He started the first three games of 2024 for UNLV before retiring from the team after not receiving his reported NIL money that the coaching staff had promised him.

Before shaking up the modern NIL state of affairs at UNLV, Sluka emerged as one of the most prominent FCS quarterbacks at Holy Cross. From 2020 to 2023, Sluka led the Crusaders to a combined 28-9 record as a starter. He had 9,475 yards of total offense and 91 total touchdowns during his first four years.

If Sluka accepted another NIL contract that included his transfer, it was not announced. Given his history, both teams likely decided to be wise about moving him in the other direction.

Sluka now takes on the daunting task of continuing James Madion’s recent run of success in the Sun Belt Conference. Harrisonburg was home to Kurt Chinetti before him accepted his present position in Indianabringing along Elijah Sarratt, Tyson Lawton and several other notable players. Even with Cinetti’s departure, the Dukes still went 9-4 in 2024 and beat Louisiana in the Boca Raton Bowl.

UNLV’s success after the Matthew Sluka fiasco

Even after Sluka’s controversial NIL-based dissent, UNLV still had one of its most successful seasons in 2024. Sixth-year Hajj-Malik Williams took over at quarterback after Sluka left and led the team to 11-3, second on the Mt. West behind the country Boise.

Williams and Sluka left the program after 2024, but Las Vegas’ future still looks bright in 2025. The Rebels have installed former Florida head coach Dan Mullen as their next leader, giving the team arguably the best chance to win in program history. Shortly after Mullen’s hiring, the former Michigan quarterback Alec Orji is committed to UNLV from the college football transfer portal.

Orji, who has just 155 career passing yards, is not a surefire answer at quarterback. However, he is easily one of the school’s most notable incoming transfers in recent history, giving Mullen something to work with. As the starter at Michigan, Orji led the Wolverines to a 2-0 record despite his shortcomings as a passer.