.Maximum Olson, ESPN Staff WriterSep 28, 2024, 08:48 PM ETCloseCovers the Significant 12Joined ESPN in 2012Graduate of the University of NebraskaLAS LAS VEGA-- UNLV made a claim Saturday in its very first video game without former starting quarterback Matthew Sluka: The Rebels are visiting be only fine.Rolling to a prevalent 59-14 gain Fresno Condition and also relocating to 4-0, UNLV confirmed it'll be a contender in the Mountain range West competition despite its quarterback change.Hajj-Malik Williams tossed for 182 lawns, rushed for 119 gardens and represented 4 complete touchdowns in his 1st start for the Rebels after Sluka opted to leave behind the course on Wednesday over an issue about his NIL settlement." It was company customarily," UNLV trainer Barry Odom claimed. "Our experts've acquired an incredibly fully grown crew. ... Our players, our company've obtained strong management. They comprehend the purpose that our experts perform and they obtained it performed." Williams, a sixth-year senior and FCS transactions from Campbell, joined the Rebels in January and also lost a near competitors with Sluka in loss camping ground. The 24-year-old quarterback played in 41 video games at Campbell, leaving behind as the program's career forerunner in passing gardens and touchdowns, as well as was ready for his chance." I thought he was effective, I presumed he was actually reliable," Odom mentioned. "I thought the outrageous line carried out an incredible work defending him. I thought the recipients managed great options. I believed the distance runners operated hard. Our team played well as an offense." UNLV pass receiver Ricky White III led the Rebels along with a season-high 10 catches for 127 backyards and also pair of goals and also mentioned the quarterback adjustment was "certainly good for our team."" He's only a fantastic quarterback that our team, as an outburst, we can rally at the rear of and merely pass his rate," White said.After beginning three games for UNLV, Sluka decided to redshirt as well as is expected to get into the transactions portal in December. Sluka's father as well as broker have actually declared he was actually verbally assured $100,000 by UNLV objectionable coordinator Brennan Marion during the course of his employment yet obtained simply $3,000 coming from the university's NIL collective. UNLV pointed out in a claim that Sluka's reps made monetary needs for him to keep playing that it took "an infraction of NCAA pay-for-play rules, and also Nevada state legislation." Editor's Picks2 RelatedOdom gone through coming from an equipped statement in the course of his postgame news conference as well as did certainly not take concerns relating to Sluka. He pointed out UNLV abided by appropriate regulations and also is devoted to the growth as well as results of every player in the program." Many have actually expressed really solid point of views concerning the activities of recently without full know-how of the realities, without complete expertise of the events of last week as well as without full understanding of the regulation in the ever-changing, developing NIL unit," Odom claimed. "As well as sadly, some have even utilized this scenario as a platform for their personal agendas. I value everybody's right to a viewpoint, as well as I won't discuss others' point of views or their incentives for sharing all of them." White likewise had a notification for Circa Sports Chief Executive Officer Derek Stevens after the Las vega gambling enterprise conveyed interest in providing $100,000 to keep Sluka on the staff, telling the Sin city Review-Journal that doing so will cost it "to keep the Rebels' playoff wishes active."" I will ask that someone communicate to the Circa chief executive officer and also ask him, keeping that $100,000 that he desired to donate, inflict our O-line feel free to," White said.The Rebels broke a six-game losing streak versus Fresno Condition as well as obtained the course's 1st 4-0 beginning since 1976 with a powerful day with all 3 phases of the video game. Their defense generated 4 interceptions as well as 4 sacks while permitting only 30 rushing lawns, and their exclusive crews provided a blocked out punting that White returned for a touchdown in the 1st fourth plus a 90-yard first return touchdown through Jai'Den Thomas in the 4th quarter.The success always keeps UNLV in the race for the increased 12-team College Soccer Playoff and also wraps up a turbulent full week for an athletic department that was actually concurrently taking care of the most recent sphere of conference adjustment in college athletics.UNLV officially determined to continue to be in the Mountain West on Thursday, denying a transfer to the Pac-12 complying with that organization's addition of Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno Condition, San Diego Condition and also Utah Condition for 2026. The seven continuing to be schools in the Mountain range West accepted a give of liberties that will definitely tie them to the conference by means of 2031-32. After actually defeating Significant 12 participants Houston as well as Kansas in nonconference play, UNLV receives one more opportunity to remove an Energy 4 opponent and also boost its own CFP ru00e9sumu00e9 when it holds 3-1 Syracuse on Friday." Our guys will certainly flip the page really promptly," Odom mentioned. "I could possibly tell in the locker room our company're ready to carry out that and also climb on to the upcoming game.".