.Max Olson, ESPN Personnel WriterSep 28, 2024, 08:48 PM ETCloseCovers the Large 12Joined ESPN in 2012Graduate of the Educational Institution of NebraskaLAS LAS VEGA-- UNLV brought in a statement Sunday in its 1st video game without past starting quarterback Matthew Sluka: The Rebels are heading to be just fine.Rolling to a leading 59-14 gain Fresno Condition and transferring to 4-0, UNLV confirmed it'll be a contender in the Mountain range West race irrespective of its own quarterback change.Hajj-Malik Williams threw for 182 yards, hurried for 119 backyards and accounted for 4 overall touchdowns in his very first begin for the Rebels after Sluka decided to leave the program on Wednesday over a disagreement concerning his NIL compensation." It was company customarily," UNLV instructor Barry Odom pointed out. "Our company've acquired a really fully grown team. ... Our players, our experts have actually obtained strong management. They comprehend the objective that our experts get on and also they acquired it performed." Williams, a sixth-year senior and also FCS move coming from Campbell, joined the Rebels in January as well as lost a near competition along with Sluka in autumn camping ground. The 24-year-old quarterback played in 41 activities at Campbell, leaving as the course's job innovator in passing gardens as well as touchdowns, as well as was ready for his opportunity." I believed he worked, I assumed he was effective," Odom pointed out. "I presumed the offensive line did a significant project defending him. I assumed the recipients managed wonderful courses. I believed the runners operated hard. Our experts participated in effectively as an offense." UNLV wide receiver Ricky White III led the Rebels along with a season-high 10 catches for 127 gardens as well as pair of goals and also said the quarterback adjustment was "most definitely great for our company."" He's merely a fantastic quarterback that us, as an offense, our experts may move at the back of and also just pass his speed," White said.After beginning three games for UNLV, Sluka opted to redshirt and is actually expected to get into the transmission website in December. Sluka's daddy as well as broker have affirmed he was vocally guaranteed $100,000 by UNLV offending organizer Brennan Marion in the course of his recruitment yet received just $3,000 coming from the school's NIL collective. UNLV said in a statement that Sluka's agents made financial requirements for him to maintain playing that it interpreted as "an offense of NCAA pay-for-play guidelines, and also Nevada condition regulation." Editor's Picks2 RelatedOdom checked out coming from a well prepared claim throughout his postgame news conference and did certainly not take questions relating to Sluka. He pointed out UNLV followed applicable policies as well as is actually devoted to the growth and results of every player in the plan." Lots of have revealed quite solid viewpoints regarding the events of recently without total know-how of the truths, without full knowledge of the activities of recently as well as without complete know-how of the rules in the ever-changing, growing NIL body," Odom mentioned. "As well as regrettably, some have also used this condition as a system for their own agendas. I recognize everybody's right to an opinion, and I will not comment on others' viewpoints or their motivations for conveying them." White additionally possessed a notification for Circa Sports CEO Derek Stevens after the Vegas online casino showed interest in supplying $100,000 to maintain Sluka on the staff, saying to the Las Vegas Review-Journal that doing this would certainly cost it "to keep the Rebels' playoff wishes alive."" I will ask that someone reach out to the Circa CEO as well as ask him, keeping that $100,000 that he wanted to give, give it to our O-line satisfy," White said.The Rebels popped a six-game losing touch versus Fresno Condition and obtained the system's initial 4-0 begin given that 1976 along with a strong day with all three stages of the game. Their protection generated 4 interceptions and four sacks while enabling simply 30 hurrying yards, as well as their special crews delivered an obstructed punt that White returned for a touchdown in the initial one-fourth plus a 90-yard kickoff gain goal through Jai'Den Thomas in the fourth quarter.The triumph keeps UNLV in the competition for the expanded 12-team University Soccer Playoff as well as concludes a chaotic week for an athletic department that was actually at the same time coping with the latest round of association adjustment in college athletics.UNLV officially made a decision to remain in the Mountain West on Thursday, rejecting a relocate to the Pac-12 adhering to that game's addition of Boise Condition, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego Condition as well as Utah Condition for 2026. The 7 remaining universities in the Hill West consented to a give of liberties that will certainly tie all of them to the event by means of 2031-32. After actually defeating Large 12 members Houston and also Kansas in nonconference play, UNLV receives another opportunity to take down an Electrical power 4 enemy and boost its own CFP ru00e9sumu00e9 when it holds 3-1 Syracuse on Friday." Our individuals will flip the webpage really rapidly," Odom claimed. "I can say to in the closet space our team're ready to carry out that and get on to the next video game.".