USC coach Lincoln Riley and Texas A&M coach Mike Elko said college football is still a great game but changes are needed to the transfer portal and NIL.
College Sports Chaos
The Review-Journal examines all the issues surrounding the rapid professionalization of college athletics, including NIL payments, the transfer portal, conference realignment and more.
Colorado State and Utah State have sued the Mountain West, disputing millions of dollars in exit fees allegedly owed because of their departure to the Pac-12.
The Mountain West has reached the NCAA’s minimum of eight schools for an official conference after adding another full-time member for the 2026-27 school year.
The Mountain West took another step in its rebuilding plan Tuesday by adding UTEP, but the conference might not find another immediate partner in the state of Texas.
The UNLV athletic department somehow emerged from a raging storm well-positioned for future success after striking a favorable deal to be the Mountain West’s big fish.
With the Matthew Sluka saga behind it, the UNLV football team turned to Hajj-Malik Williams to lead their offense against Fresno State, and he was terrific.
UNLV president Keith Whitfield and athletic director Erick Harper spoke with the Review-Journal on Friday to discuss the decision to remain in the Mountain West.
A representative for Circa CEO Derek Stevens contacted UNLV with an offer to pay quarterback Matthew Sluka the $100,000 he said the university owed him.
UNLV said in a statement it expects a lump sum payment of between $10 million and $14 million from the Mountain West in 2026 as part of its agreement to stay.
UNLV will remain in the Mountain West after weighing an offer from the reconstructed Pac-12, sources confirmed.
The departure of UNLV quarterback Matthew Sluka is the latest example that this is no longer about education or representing a university and your fellow students.
UNLV quarterback Matthew Sluka’s decision to step away from the program over an NIL dispute appears to be unprecedented in college football.
Matthew Sluka left the UNLV football team because the university failed to make good on a promised payment of $100,000, according to his father and agent. UNLV strongly disputed their version of events.
Matthew Sluka, a senior transfer from Holy Cross, had led the UNLV football team to a 3-0 start this season.
The Pac-12 filed a lawsuit against the Mountain West in federal court in California amid a flurry of realignment activity.