.Maximum Olson, ESPN Workers WriterSep 28, 2024, 08:48 PM ETCloseCovers the Major 12Joined ESPN in 2012Graduate of the Educational Institution of NebraskaLAS LAS VEGA-- UNLV made a statement Sunday in its 1st game without previous beginning quarterback Matthew Sluka: The Rebels are actually heading to be simply fine.Rolling to a dominant 59-14 get Fresno State and moving to 4-0, UNLV verified it'll be a challenger in the Mountain West competition irrespective of its quarterback change.Hajj-Malik Williams tossed for 182 lawns, rushed for 119 gardens and also represented four complete goals in his very first beginning for the Rebels after Sluka chose to leave behind the system on Wednesday over an issue concerning his NIL payment." It was service customarily," UNLV coach Barry Odom stated. "We've acquired a very mature crew. ... Our players, our company've got strong management. They understand the mission that our experts're on as well as they got it performed." Williams, a sixth-year senior and FCS transactions coming from Campbell, signed up with the Rebels in January and also shed a close competition with Sluka in autumn camping ground. The 24-year-old quarterback played in 41 activities at Campbell, leaving behind as the program's career innovator in passing yards as well as touchdowns, and also was ready for his possibility." I assumed he worked, I thought he was actually effective," Odom stated. "I presumed the repulsive line did an incredible project shielding him. I presumed the receivers operated wonderful options. I assumed the runners operated hard. Our experts played properly as an outburst." UNLV pass receiver Ricky White III led the Rebels along with a season-high 10 drawbacks for 127 gardens and also pair of goals and pointed out the quarterback modification was actually "undoubtedly good for us."" He is actually only a fantastic quarterback that our company, as an offense, we may rally behind as well as only go by his speed," White said.After starting 3 games for UNLV, Sluka decided to redshirt and also is counted on to get in the transmission website in December. Sluka's papa and also agent have declared he was verbally assured $100,000 by UNLV annoying organizer Brennan Marion throughout his recruitment but got only $3,000 coming from the school's NIL cumulative. UNLV said in a statement that Sluka's agents made financial demands for him to maintain playing that it interpreted as "an infraction of NCAA pay-for-play rules, and also Nevada state law." Editor's Picks2 RelatedOdom read coming from an equipped declaration during the course of his postgame news conference and also performed not take questions relating to Sluka. He mentioned UNLV complied with relevant rules as well as is dedicated to the progression and results of every gamer in the program." Lots of have actually conveyed incredibly powerful point of views concerning the occasions of recently without total understanding of the realities, without complete knowledge of the celebrations of recently and also without full understanding of the rules in the ever-changing, growing NIL body," Odom stated. "And also regrettably, some have actually even utilized this instance as a platform for their personal programs. I respect everyone's right to a point of view, and I will not comment on others' point of views or their motivations for sharing them." White likewise had an information for Circa Sports CEO Derek Stevens after the Vegas gambling enterprise showed passion in offering $100,000 to maintain Sluka on the crew, saying to the Las Vegas Review-Journal that doing this would certainly deserve it "to keep the Rebels' playoff hopes alive."" I would certainly talk to that a person connect to the Circa chief executive officer and also inquire him, with that said $100,000 that he wished to donate, inflict our O-line feel free to," White said.The Rebels snapped a six-game losing touch versus Fresno State and also accomplished the plan's first 4-0 start because 1976 along with a tough day in all 3 stages of the activity. Their protection produced 4 interceptions and also four sacks while making it possible for simply 30 rushing lawns, and their special groups provided a blocked punt that White came back for a goal in the very first quarter plus a 90-yard first return touchdown through Jai'Den Thomas in the fourth quarter.The triumph maintains UNLV in the competition for the grown 12-team University Football Playoff as well as ends a turbulent full week for an athletic team that was actually at the same time managing the current around of event realignment in university athletics.UNLV officially chose to stay in the Mountain range West on Thursday, declining a relocate to the Pac-12 following that organization's addition of Boise Condition, Colorado State, Fresno Condition, San Diego Condition and Utah Condition for 2026. The seven continuing to be institutions in the Mountain West accepted to a grant of liberties that will certainly bind them to the conference via 2031-32. After already defeating Huge 12 members Houston and Kansas in nonconference play, UNLV acquires another chance to take down an Electrical power 4 enemy and reinforce its own CFP ru00e9sumu00e9 when it organizes 3-1 Syracuse on Friday." Our people will turn the page actually rapidly," Odom said. "I could inform in the locker room we're ready to perform that and also climb on to the next activity.".