What to make of NIL, Pac-12 drama, plus Alabama-Georgia and Week 5 picks

Just when you think the college football world can’t get any crazier, there’s the story breaking late Tuesday night that UNLV quarterback Matt Sluka is leaving the team after leading the Rebels to a 3-0 record. Sluka appears to allude to unfulfilled NIL payments as the reason for him deciding to redshirt, though other reports claim he asked for more money after the team’s strong start. Is this an isolated incident or the first of a trend of players and schools getting into disputes over money that change the landscape of the sport.

In other off field news, the Pac-12 and Mountain West continue to be at odds following the former’s raiding of four teams last week and then the subsequent addition of Utah State this week. Where do things go from here? Does the Mountain West fall apart. Could there be a merger?

This Saturday starts a series of major SEC showdowns with No. 1 Georgiatraveling to No. 4 Alabama. It’s a huge game for both programs, but maybe more notable for Crimson Tide coach Kalen DeBoer as he gets his first big test as Nick Saban’s successor. It’s not the only Top 25 matchup in Week 5, however, in what should be an exciting weekend.

Dan Wolken and Paul Myerberg of USA TODAY Sports discuss these topics and more in this week’s version of the College Football Fix.

FIRST AND 10: Georgia-Alabama begins era of rematches and that’s fine

BAD LOOK: Pac-12 revival deserves bad nickname like cheap sunglasses

BOWL PROJECTIONS: Two unlikely newcomers join the playoff field

PLAYOFF BRACKET: SEC teams likely facing squeeze at end of season

CALM DOWN: Five overreactions from Week 4 in college football

RE-RANK: Tennessee breaks into top four of NCAA 1-134 after big win

MISERY INDEX: North Carolina faces uncertain future with Mack Brown

FOUR DOWN: Michigan makes statement by embracing power game