Once again, the biggest story in college athletics has nothing to do with a transcendent performance on the field of play nor a coach's brilliant-or-bust decision.
It has everything to do with UNLV -- OK, ex-UNLV -- quarterback Matthew Sluka electing to press pause on his 2024 season, even as the undefeated Runnin' Rebels are 3-0 and ranked No. 23 in the coaches' top 25.
— Matthew Sluka (@MatthewSluka) September 25, 2024
Count Georgia head coach Kirby Smart among those in the college football industry who doesn't believe that Sluka's decision is going to be a one-off moment.
Smart was asked Wednesday morning on the SEC Coaches Teleconference what might be done moving forward to preclude such events.
"I guess you’re asking me for a solution? I don’t have the answer," Smart said. "I can tell you that I don’t think it will be the last, and the way we’re moving into this abyss of unknown, and I’m talking about fiscal responsibility, financial commitments, financial promises, people sometimes make promises, and I know I’ve come across it in our recruiting, that they can’t keep.
"Sometimes there’s no rebuttal for the athlete, sometimes there’s no rebuttal for the athletic department or the collective involved. It’s sad there’s not a way to police it better. Because it’s unfortunate."
Smart made clear he wasn't speaking with any insight to UNLV's exploding situation but more so was speaking to what he believes is on the verge of becoming inevitable, if not commonplace, in collegiate athletics.
He just thinks not only must the revenue-sharing litigation be settled in House vs. NCAA but that contracts or stipulations must be in place to lend some structure.
"I’m not suggesting UNLV made promises they can’t keep," Smart said. "I’m not saying that. I don’t know that situation; I want to be clear. What I’m saying is it happens more and more. And it’s going to happen even more and more as we move into this revenue-share, where I feel like unless there’s a contract, and there’s a set contract where Person A has to stay a certain amount of time or they’re going to have to pay back this contract, we’re never going to get to where we want to get to.
"There’s probably going to be more and more of this going on, especially as the year goes on, November and December. Athletic departments are going to struggle to be able to make their commitments come to fruition. I think we’re going to see some really tough times in college football when all this is said and done."