UNLV didn't pay the price — and now the Rebels are paying the price.
Quarterback Matt Sulka's father and NIL representatives claim UNLV tried to skim $88,000 off the six-figure signing bonus offered to him, which led to his shocking departure from the program.
Sulka has helped UNLV to a 3-0 start since transferring from Holy Cross this offseason.
“I have no idea what on earth happened,” said Bob Sulka, Matt's father. He told ESPN.
Sulka shocked the college football world late Tuesday when he announced he would be leaving the team midway through the season.
He wrote He said he would take a redshirt year because it had become “clear” that “certain representations” that had been promised had not materialized and would not happen in the future.
Sulka's NIL agent, Marcus Cromartie of Equity Sports, told ESPN that his client had been verbally promised at least $100,000 through a UNLV assistant coach in return for coming to the school.
Cromartie and Bobb told ESPN that Sluka never received any of that money, but Cromartie noted the quarterback received a $3,000 relocation allowance.
Cromartie further explained that UNLV's NIL team “made no effort” to get the quarterback a contract after he enrolled at the university.
The union eventually countered with an offer of $3,000 per month for four months, $88,000 less than the $100,000 originally proposed.
Both Cromartie and Bobb said Sulka did not ask for further compensation after leading the program to an undefeated start. As reported by 247SportsAll he received was the amount offered.
Sulka ultimately decided to leave the school, and ESPN reported that the player was able to find a new school and participate in their spring program, something he wasn't able to do at UNLV.
The quarterback threw for 318 yards and six touchdown passes, while also rushing 39 times for 253 yards and one touchdown.
UNLV now must quickly find a starting quarterback for Saturday's home game against Fresno State, which has dropped UNLV from favorite to 1.5-point home underdog on FanDuel.
