.Maximum Olson, ESPN Team WriterSep 28, 2024, 08:48 PM ETCloseCovers the Significant 12Joined ESPN in 2012Graduate of the Educational Institution of NebraskaLAS VEGAS-- UNLV made a statement Sunday in its own 1st video game without previous starting quarterback Matthew Sluka: The Rebels are heading to be only fine.Rolling to a prevalent 59-14 win over Fresno State and also relocating to 4-0, UNLV confirmed it'll be a challenger in the Mountain West race no matter its quarterback change.Hajj-Malik Williams threw for 182 gardens, hurried for 119 yards and also represented four overall goals in his very first begin for the Rebels after Sluka opted to leave behind the course on Wednesday over an issue about his NIL payment." It was actually organization as usual," UNLV coach Barry Odom pointed out. "Our experts have actually acquired a really fully grown staff. ... Our players, we have actually acquired solid leadership. They know the goal that our experts perform and they obtained it done." Williams, a sixth-year senior and also FCS transfer from Campbell, participated in the Rebels in January and also shed a near competitors along with Sluka in fall camp. The 24-year-old quarterback played in 41 games at Campbell, leaving behind as the course's career innovator in passing yards and also goals, and also was ready for his possibility." I believed he worked, I assumed he was actually efficient," Odom said. "I thought the offending line performed a tremendous project shielding him. I presumed the receivers ran excellent paths. I thought the joggers managed hard. Our company played well as an offense." UNLV pass receiver Ricky White III led the Rebels with a season-high 10 catches for 127 backyards as well as pair of goals and mentioned the quarterback adjustment was actually "certainly suitable for our team."" He is actually simply a terrific quarterback that our team, as an offense, our experts may move behind and also just go by his pace," White said.After starting 3 games for UNLV, Sluka chose to redshirt and also is anticipated to enter the transactions site in December. Sluka's father as well as agent have declared he was actually vocally promised $100,000 through UNLV outrageous planner Brennan Marion during the course of his employment but received simply $3,000 from the university's NIL cumulative. UNLV mentioned in a claim that Sluka's agents created monetary demands for him to always keep playing that it took "an offense of NCAA pay-for-play regulations, as well as Nevada state law." Editor's Picks2 RelatedOdom read coming from a well prepared statement during the course of his postgame press conference and performed not take concerns regarding Sluka. He said UNLV followed relevant rules and also is actually committed to the advancement as well as effectiveness of every gamer in the course." Several have actually shared very powerful viewpoints concerning the events of last week without complete understanding of the realities, without full expertise of the celebrations of recently as well as without complete knowledge of the regulation in the ever-changing, growing NIL device," Odom mentioned. "And also regrettably, some have even utilized this condition as a platform for their own schedules. I respect everyone's right to a point of view, and I won't discuss others' opinions or even their motivations for revealing all of them." White likewise had an information for Circa Athletics CEO Derek Stevens after the Las vega casino conveyed enthusiasm in offering $100,000 to keep Sluka on the team, informing the Sin city Review-Journal that doing so would certainly cost it "to always keep the Rebels' playoff really hopes active."" I will talk to that someone reach out to the Circa chief executive officer as well as inquire him, keeping that $100,000 that he intended to give, give it to our O-line feel free to," White said.The Rebels broke a six-game losing touch against Fresno Condition and accomplished the program's 1st 4-0 begin because 1976 with a solid time in every three periods of the activity. Their self defense made 4 interceptions and four sacks while permitting just 30 rushing lawns, as well as their unique crews provided a blocked punting that White came back for a touchdown in the very first quarter plus a 90-yard first return touchdown by Jai'Den Thomas in the fourth quarter.The success maintains UNLV in the race for the increased 12-team College Football Playoff and also concludes a disorderly week for an athletic division that was actually simultaneously dealing with the latest sphere of conference realignment in university athletics.UNLV officially determined to stay in the Mountain range West on Thursday, turning down a move to the Pac-12 observing that league's enhancement of Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State and Utah Condition for 2026. The seven remaining institutions in the Mountain range West accepted to a give of rights that will tie them to the event with 2031-32. After already defeating Major 12 participants Houston as well as Kansas in nonconference play, UNLV acquires one more possibility to take down an Energy 4 opponent and reinforce its CFP ru00e9sumu00e9 when it holds 3-1 Syracuse on Friday." Our guys will turn the webpage definitely rapidly," Odom stated. "I might inform in the closet room our team prepare to do that as well as hop on to the next game.".