.Max Olson, ESPN Staff WriterSep 28, 2024, 08:48 PM ETCloseCovers the Significant 12Joined ESPN in 2012Graduate of the University of NebraskaLAS VEGAS-- UNLV brought in a statement Sunday in its very first activity without former starting quarterback Matthew Sluka: The Rebels are heading to be just fine.Rolling to a prevalent 59-14 sway Fresno Condition and also transferring to 4-0, UNLV showed it'll be actually an opponent in the Hill West competition irrespective of its quarterback change.Hajj-Malik Williams tossed for 182 yards, hurried for 119 backyards and accounted for four total goals in his initial begin for the Rebels after Sluka opted to leave behind the system on Wednesday over a dispute about his NIL compensation." It was organization as usual," UNLV instructor Barry Odom mentioned. "We have actually acquired an incredibly fully grown staff. ... Our gamers, our company've got solid leadership. They comprehend the purpose that our company get on and also they received it done." Williams, a sixth-year elderly and FCS move from Campbell, signed up with the Rebels in January and also shed a near competition along with Sluka in fall camp. The 24-year-old quarterback played in 41 video games at Campbell, leaving behind as the system's occupation forerunner in passing backyards and touchdowns, as well as was ready for his possibility." I believed he was effective, I believed he was dependable," Odom pointed out. "I presumed the outrageous line did a significant work guarding him. I thought the recipients managed excellent options. I presumed the joggers operated hard. Our company participated in well as an outburst." UNLV wide receiver Ricky White III led the Rebels along with a season-high 10 catches for 127 gardens as well as two touchdowns as well as stated the quarterback modification was "undoubtedly suitable for us."" He's merely a wonderful quarterback that our company, as an outburst, our experts can move behind as well as merely pass his pace," White said.After starting 3 games for UNLV, Sluka opted to redshirt and is actually anticipated to enter into the transfer site in December. Sluka's papa and also broker have alleged he was verbally guaranteed $100,000 through UNLV annoying organizer Brennan Marion during his recruitment but obtained merely $3,000 from the university's NIL cumulative. UNLV said in a declaration that Sluka's reps made financial demands for him to keep participating in that it took "a transgression of NCAA pay-for-play regulations, as well as Nevada state law." Publisher's Picks2 RelatedOdom read through coming from an equipped statement during his postgame news conference as well as carried out certainly not take inquiries concerning Sluka. He mentioned UNLV adhered to applicable guidelines and also is committed to the progression and also results of every gamer in the plan." Lots of have actually shown extremely solid opinions concerning the occasions of last week without total understanding of the facts, without complete knowledge of the events of recently and without full understanding of the regulation in the ever-changing, progressing NIL body," Odom said. "As well as regrettably, some have also used this scenario as a system for their own schedules. I recognize every person's right to a point of view, and I won't discuss others' point of views or their incentives for expressing all of them." White likewise possessed a notification for Circa Athletics Chief Executive Officer Derek Stevens after the Las vega gambling establishment shared interest in offering $100,000 to maintain Sluka on the team, saying to the Las Vegas Review-Journal that accomplishing this will cost it "to keep the Rebels' playoff wishes to life."" I will inquire that someone reach out to the Circa CEO and inquire him, with that $100,000 that he wished to donate, inflict our O-line satisfy," White said.The Rebels snapped a six-game losing streak against Fresno Condition and accomplished the system's very first 4-0 beginning since 1976 along with a solid time in each 3 stages of the game. Their protection made 4 interceptions as well as four sacks while making it possible for merely 30 hurrying lawns, and also their special crews supplied a blocked punting that White returned for a touchdown in the initial quarter plus a 90-yard first profit touchdown through Jai'Den Thomas in the fourth quarter.The victory maintains UNLV in the race for the grown 12-team University Regulation football Playoff and also ends a turbulent full week for an athletic team that was actually simultaneously managing the most up to date sphere of association adjustment in college athletics.UNLV officially chose to continue to be in the Mountain range West on Thursday, rejecting a relocate to the Pac-12 following that organization's addition of Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno Condition, San Diego Condition and Utah Condition for 2026. The seven remaining universities in the Mountain range West agreed to a give of rights that will definitely tie them to the association by means of 2031-32. After presently beating Big 12 members Houston and also Kansas in nonconference play, UNLV obtains one more option to remove an Energy 4 challenger and also reinforce its CFP ru00e9sumu00e9 when it hosts 3-1 Syracuse on Friday." Our men will certainly flip the page definitely rapidly," Odom said. "I could possibly inform in the locker space our team're ready to accomplish that as well as hop on to the next activity.".