UNLV quarterback Matthew Sluka has decided to sit out the rest of his undefeated team’s season over a $100,000 NIL payment that was promised but never paid after he agreed to transfer to the Rebels last winter, Sluka’s agent told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

Sluka’s announcement late Tuesday sent shockwaves throughout major college football, where the old rules of amateurism have fallen but schools and the NCAA are still grappling with how to regulate the way players can be compensated for use of their name, image or likeness.

Sluka’s agent, Marcus Cromartie of Equity Sports, said Sluka was promised $100,000 by a UNLV assistant coach who recruited the quarterback last winter when he agreed to transfer from Holy Cross to the Rebels in January.

Equity Sports represents numerous NFL and college players, including Kansas City Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes.

Sluka did not join the team until preseason practice in August. No written contract was ever put in place, Cromartie said.

NFL

Love says his knee is improving >> Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love says he is practicing with fewer limits and moving better this week as he continues to recover from a knee injury.

Whether that means Love will be ready to play Sunday in their NFC North opener against the undefeated Minnesota Vikings remains uncertain.

Love has missed two games since injuring his left medial collateral ligament in the final series of the Packers’ 34-29 season-opening loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Brazil. This is the second straight week he has practiced on a limited basis.

Chargers coach Harbaugh expresses disappointment over James’ 1-game suspension >> Los Angeles Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh is disappointed about safety Derwin James Jr.’s one-game suspension by the NFL.

James has had a league-leading five unnecessary roughness penalties since the start of last season. Before the suspension, he was fined $91,027 since Week 16 of the 2022 season for hits to defenseless receivers.

“He is a shining star as a teammate and captain of this team. He is a shining star and example,” Harbaugh said. “He does not want to hurt anybody. He just wants to do it exactly how the NFL wants to have people tackled in this game. There’s no one I respect more.”

MLB

Mets and Braves to play doubleheader on Monday >> The final two games of a crucial series between the New York Mets and Atlanta Braves were postponed Wednesday by heavy rains ahead of Hurricane Helene.

Now, a wild-card race that seemed headed to the final day of the regular season may require an extra day.

And a doubleheader, at that.

The regular season was set to end Sunday, but the Mets are now scheduled to return to Atlanta on Monday for a pair of games 40 minutes apart that could determine who heads to the playoffs.

New York plays three games in Milwaukee against the NL Central champion Brewers beginning Friday, while the Braves have a weekend series against the Kansas City Royals, a playoff contender in the AL.

Yankees’ Cortes goes on injured list >> Yankees pitcher Nestor Cortes has a strained flexor in his pitching elbow and was put on the 15-day injured list in a blow to New York’s rotation heading into the playoffs.

The left-hander was scratched from his scheduled start against Baltimore on Wednesday night and replaced by Marcus Stroman. The IL move was retroactive to Sunday.

Cortes (9-10, 3.77 ERA) was a candidate to be the Yankees’ third starter in the postseason behind Gerrit Cole (7-5, 3.67) and Carlos Rodón (16-9, 3.98). Cortes was 4-0 with a 1.58 ERA in his last seven starts, striking out 38 and walking 10 in 40 innings.

Orioles pitcher Rodriguez to miss postseason >> Grayson Rodriguez won’t pitch again this year, another setback for the injury-ravaged Baltimore Orioles as they prepare for the playoffs.

Rodriguez, the team’s No. 2 starter, has been on the injured list since early August because of right lat discomfort. Even last week, the Orioles were still hoping to get him back before October. But manager Brandon Hyde said Wednesday the right-hander is being shut down and will miss the postseason.

Rodriguez was 13-4 with a 3.86 ERA over 20 starts in his second major league season. He struck out 130 batters and walked 36 in 116 2/3 innings.

Track

Women’s only track meet in NYC features Olympic champs >> A New York City track meet Thursday night will be unlike any other, featuring lucrative prize money, big-name entertainers, silver crowns for the winners instead of gold medals and an all-female field.

Chalk up another win for women’s sports.

Recently crowned Olympic 200-meter champion Gabby Thomas and company are helping track take a big step forward by racing in the inaugural Athlos track meet, which has assembled some of the fastest women in the world.

It will air on the X platform, YouTube and ESPN-plus, along with a rebroadcast on ESPN2 over the weekend.