.Maximum Olson, ESPN Team WriterSep 28, 2024, 08:48 PM ETCloseCovers the Significant 12Joined ESPN in 2012Graduate of the College of NebraskaLAS VEGAS-- UNLV created a statement Saturday in its own first activity without previous starting quarterback Matthew Sluka: The Rebels are mosting likely to be actually simply fine.Rolling to a dominant 59-14 get Fresno State and also relocating to 4-0, UNLV confirmed it'll be a challenger in the Mountain range West competition regardless of its own quarterback change.Hajj-Malik Williams tossed for 182 backyards, rushed for 119 lawns and made up four total goals in his 1st start for the Rebels after Sluka decided to leave the system on Wednesday over a disagreement regarding his NIL remuneration." It was service customarily," UNLV coach Barry Odom stated. "Our experts have actually obtained a really fully grown staff. ... Our gamers, our experts've got powerful leadership. They know the mission that our experts perform as well as they got it carried out." Williams, a sixth-year senior as well as FCS transfer from Campbell, signed up with the Rebels in January and dropped a near competitors with Sluka in fall camp. The 24-year-old quarterback played in 41 games at Campbell, leaving as the plan's job leader in passing gardens and goals, as well as awaited his possibility." I assumed he worked, I presumed he was actually effective," Odom stated. "I assumed the objectionable line performed a tremendous work securing him. I believed the receivers ran excellent routes. I assumed the joggers ran hard. We participated in properly as an offense." UNLV pass receiver Ricky White III led the Rebels along with a season-high 10 catches for 127 lawns and also two touchdowns and also stated the quarterback adjustment was "definitely good for us."" He's simply an excellent quarterback that us, as an offense, our experts can move behind and merely go by his rate," White said.After starting 3 ready UNLV, Sluka opted to redshirt and also is actually anticipated to get into the transmission gateway in December. Sluka's father and also agent have actually alleged he was actually verbally vowed $100,000 through UNLV offensive planner Brennan Marion during his employment but obtained only $3,000 coming from the institution's NIL cumulative. UNLV stated in a declaration that Sluka's agents made economic needs for him to always keep playing that it interpreted as "a violation of NCAA pay-for-play rules, in addition to Nevada condition legislation." Editor's Picks2 RelatedOdom checked out from a well prepared declaration during the course of his postgame press conference as well as carried out certainly not take concerns pertaining to Sluka. He mentioned UNLV followed appropriate guidelines as well as is actually devoted to the development and also success of every player in the program." A lot of have actually expressed extremely tough point of views regarding the occasions of recently without complete understanding of the realities, without full know-how of the celebrations of last week as well as without complete understanding of the regulation in the ever-changing, progressing NIL device," Odom claimed. "And also unfortunately, some have actually even used this situation as a system for their own schedules. I value every person's right to a point of view, and I won't comment on others' viewpoints or even their incentives for conveying them." White additionally had a notification for Circa Athletics CEO Derek Stevens after the Vegas gambling establishment revealed rate of interest in using $100,000 to maintain Sluka on the group, saying to the Las Vegas Review-Journal that doing so would cost it "to keep the Rebels' playoff hopes active."" I would certainly talk to that someone connect to the Circa CEO and also ask him, keeping that $100,000 that he wanted to give away, give it to our O-line please," White said.The Rebels snapped a six-game losing touch against Fresno State and also accomplished the system's very first 4-0 beginning since 1976 along with a strong time in every 3 periods of the game. Their protection produced four interceptions and also 4 sacks while allowing merely 30 rushing backyards, as well as their special crews provided a blocked out punt that White came back for a touchdown in the 1st one-fourth plus a 90-yard kickoff gain touchdown by Jai'Den Thomas in the fourth quarter.The success always keeps UNLV in the race for the expanded 12-team College Soccer Playoff and also ends a chaotic week for an athletic department that was at the same time dealing with the latest sphere of event realignment in university athletics.UNLV formally chose to continue to be in the Mountain West on Thursday, turning down a relocate to the Pac-12 complying with that game's enhancement of Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego Condition and also Utah State for 2026. The 7 continuing to be institutions in the Mountain range West accepted a grant of rights that will certainly bind them to the event through 2031-32. After currently defeating Significant 12 participants Houston and Kansas in nonconference play, UNLV receives one more opportunity to remove an Electrical power 4 rival and also boost its own CFP ru00e9sumu00e9 when it throws 3-1 Syracuse on Friday." Our men are going to turn the webpage truly rapidly," Odom said. "I could tell in the closet area our company're ready to accomplish that and also jump on to the following game.".