Paul Finebaum: UNLV's NIL controversy has broad implications

The biggest story in college football so far this season involves a player, Matthew Sluka, that few fans recognize, and a school (UNLV) that is way down the pecking order in the FBS ranks.

But the UNLV quarterback’s decision to walk away from the team after a 3-0 start, claiming he had not been paid promised NIL money, has implications far beyond that situation.

Paul Finebaum thinks that it could be a precursor of things to come in college sports. The college football analyst appeared on First Take Thursday to talk about the controversy.

“It’s a bad story, until you read that statement from the university, and then you literally want to throw up,” Finebaum said. “This is a university that clearly offered this young man an opportunity, offered to pay him, reneged on that and now they’re essentially accusing him of being a grifter, a scam artist. And that’s why people hate the NCAA, and that’s why people really are fed up with the way things are in college athletics.”

Sluka transferred from Holy Cross this season, and his agent, Marcus Cromartie, told ESPN he was verbally guaranteed $100,000 in NIL money. Cromartie told ESPN no formal deal was ever offered, and he received just $3,000 in relocation expenses.

UNLV issued a statement saying Sluka’s agent made NIL demands it believed violated NCAA rules.

Finebaum said that even $100,000 is low for a quarterback.

“It’s a free world right now, wild, wild West, everybody’s getting paid, and what he’s being offered … is a backup tackle at an SEC school,” Finebaum said. “I’m not making light of $100,000, that’s a lot of money. But for this university to turn on him, it’s beyond the pale.”

Host Molly Qerim touched on the broader implications of the UNLV controversy.

“Do you feel like this could be a sign of things to come?” Qerim asked.

“Yes,” Finebaum said. “We’re sitting here, the last weekend of September (talking about) a school that doesn’t really matter to very many people. What if, on the weekend of the Georgia-Texas game or the Alabama-Auburn game, or the Michigan-Ohio State game, a star says, ‘You know what — where’s my money?’

“It’s going to happen, because everyone in college athletics is watching this, and they’re watching how disgusting it is.”

Finebaum said the fact Sluka and UNLV had a verbal agreement is irrelevant.

“This isn’t about litigation, this is about right or wrong, and every school in the country probably would do the same thing,” Finebaum said. “People out there who maybe aren’t paying attention are going, ‘Well this is wrong.’ No, it’s not wrong. This is where we are right now.”

“I think this is a blemish on UNLV,” Stephen A. Smith said. “The resources you have are minimal, but now you’re exposed for not keeping your word.”

[ESPN College Football on YouTube ]

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