After a fairly tumultuous week, UNLV looked no worse for wear Saturday against Fresno State.
UNLV played for the first time Saturday since starting quarterback Matthew Sluka abruptly left the team over an NIL dispute this week. By the end of the third quarter, they had jumped out to a 31-7 lead behind new quarterback Hajj-Malik Williams. Williams, replacing Sluka, had three touchdowns — two passing and one rushing.
The outstanding performance elicited a lot of similar reactions across social media. Most of them took shots at Sluka, arguing UNLV clearly did not need him and he and his agent were left looking pretty bad by this turn of events.
The Matthew Sluka-less UNLV Rebels leading Fresno State 28-0 13 minutes left in 3rd quarter. Rebels had not scored more than 27 points in a game vs. FBS teams this year w/Sluka
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) September 28, 2024
Matthew Sluka and his agent watching UNLV pic.twitter.com/3RdHiCvYkX
— Garage Gameday Sports (@GamedayGarage) September 28, 2024
Whoever told Sluka and pops to kick rocks is a good business man. UNLV looks like Bama
— John Middlekauff (@JohnMiddlekauff) September 28, 2024
Checks UNLV score … so that’s why they didn’t pay their QB 100k
— Geoff Schwartz (@geoffschwartz) September 28, 2024
Some UNLV fans even had a message directed at Sluka.
UNLV Football fans have some thoughts for former QB Matt Sluka after he abandoned the team earlier this week. pic.twitter.com/0RtvJKcYDH
— Las Vegas Locally 🌴 (@LasVegasLocally) September 28, 2024
Sluka and his camp claimed that UNLV verbally promised over $100,000 in NIL money after the quarterback transferred from Holy Cross, only for the school to go back on that agreement. The school’s NIL collective said they had never agreed to such a sum. Regardless, Sluka decided to take a redshirt and effectively leave the program.
UNLV undoubtedly answered some questions with Saturday’s performance. Sluka might have to answer some of his own if the Rebels keep looking better without him.
