With a minute and ten seconds remaining on Friday the 13th, UNLV’s Matthew Sluka took the first of two knees on the opponent's field to run out the clock, completing the upset of the then 19th-ranked Kansas Jayhawks.

Unfortunately for the undefeated Rebels, as time expired, so did their luck with NIL. These would be the last plays of Matthew Sluka’s career as a UNLV Rebel.

Just after midnight, Sluka announced that he was ending his season and planning to redshirt, tweeting:

"I have decided to utilize my redshirt year and will not be playing in any additional games this season. I committed to UNLV based on certain representations that were made to me, which were not upheld after I enrolled. Despite discussions, it became clear that these commitments would not be fulfilled in the future. I wish my teammates the best of luck this season and hope for the continued success of the program."

While it wasn’t explicitly stated by Sluka, the senior transfer from Holy Cross, his decision to forgo the season — and dash the hopes of UNLV’s Rebels — seems to stem from a dispute over Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) compensation.

After playing his first four years at Holy Cross, Sluka transferred to UNLV for his final season of eligibility, likely lured by the promise of significant NIL compensation. By redshirting after three games, Sluka preserves his eligibility for an additional season and the possibility of being compensated by another college program.

This season, Sluka has thrown for 318 yards and six touchdowns, adding another 286 yards and one score on the ground. With his unexpected departure, the Rebels will likely have to turn to senior transfer Hajj-Malik Williams or senior Cameron Friel as their starting quarterback.

Matthew Sluka’s business decision to redshirt is likely one of many in this new era of college football. And, while it is the most drastic we have seen, it is not the first. Earlier this season, offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor elected to transfer back to Alabama after leaving for Iowa and agreeing to a $100,000 NIL deal.

The Iowa collective announced that Proctor had not received funds from the collective but had received a portion of contracted payments from sponsoring businesses. Kadyn is starting for the Crimson Tide currently.

As difficult as it is to be a fan of the UNLV football team, it is significantly more upsetting for Sluka’s teammates, who just weeks ago believed they might be part of a magical season. No longer is bad luck in college football limited to injuries and upsets—it now includes name, image and likeness.