.Maximum Olson, ESPN Workers WriterSep 28, 2024, 08:48 PM ETCloseCovers the Significant 12Joined ESPN in 2012Graduate of the College of NebraskaLAS LAS VEGA-- UNLV created a statement Sunday in its own 1st game without past beginning quarterback Matthew Sluka: The Rebels are heading to be actually just fine.Rolling to a leading 59-14 win over Fresno State and moving to 4-0, UNLV proved it'll be actually a contender in the Hill West competition irrespective of its quarterback change.Hajj-Malik Williams tossed for 182 gardens, hurried for 119 gardens and also represented 4 complete touchdowns in his very first begin for the Rebels after Sluka decided to leave the system on Wednesday over an issue concerning his NIL remuneration." It was actually organization as usual," UNLV coach Barry Odom claimed. "We have actually got an incredibly fully grown group. ... Our gamers, our company've acquired strong leadership. They understand the purpose that we get on as well as they obtained it carried out." Williams, a sixth-year elderly and also FCS transfer from Campbell, joined the Rebels in January and also lost a close competitors with Sluka in autumn camping ground. The 24-year-old quarterback played in 41 video games at Campbell, leaving behind as the plan's profession innovator in passing lawns and also goals, and awaited his option." I assumed he worked, I believed he was efficient," Odom mentioned. "I believed the repulsive line did a tremendous job protecting him. I believed the recipients ran excellent options. I presumed the runners operated hard. Our experts participated in properly as an offense." UNLV wide receiver Ricky White III led the Rebels along with a season-high 10 catches for 127 lawns and also 2 touchdowns and mentioned the quarterback adjustment was "certainly helpful for us."" He is actually just a great quarterback that our company, as an offense, we may rally behind and only go by his rate," White said.After beginning 3 games for UNLV, Sluka decided to redshirt and also is actually anticipated to enter into the transfer website in December. Sluka's daddy and also representative have affirmed he was vocally guaranteed $100,000 through UNLV objectionable coordinator Brennan Marion during the course of his employment but obtained just $3,000 from the school's NIL aggregate. UNLV stated in a declaration that Sluka's representatives made monetary needs for him to always keep playing that it interpreted as "a violation of NCAA pay-for-play rules, along with Nevada state legislation." Editor's Picks2 RelatedOdom read coming from a ready declaration during the course of his postgame press conference and performed certainly not take concerns regarding Sluka. He claimed UNLV complied with suitable rules and is committed to the advancement as well as excellence of every player in the system." Several have actually shared extremely strong opinions about the celebrations of recently without full know-how of the simple facts, without total expertise of the occasions of recently and also without total expertise of the rules in the ever-changing, progressing NIL system," Odom pointed out. "As well as sadly, some have actually also utilized this circumstance as a platform for their very own plans. I value every person's right to an opinion, and also I won't comment on others' point of views or their inspirations for revealing them." White additionally possessed a notification for Circa Sports CEO Derek Stevens after the Las vega casino shared passion in using $100,000 to always keep Sluka on the crew, informing the Las Vegas Review-Journal that doing this would certainly cost it "to maintain the Rebels' playoff really hopes to life."" I would inquire that a person communicate to the Circa chief executive officer and ask him, keeping that $100,000 that he wished to contribute, give it to our O-line feel free to," White said.The Rebels popped a six-game losing touch versus Fresno Condition and also attained the program's 1st 4-0 beginning given that 1976 along with a tough day in every 3 phases of the game. Their protection made 4 interceptions and also 4 sacks while permitting simply 30 hurrying lawns, and their exclusive crews delivered a blocked out punting that White came back for a touchdown in the initial fourth plus a 90-yard kickoff yield touchdown by Jai'Den Thomas in the fourth quarter.The victory keeps UNLV in the race for the increased 12-team University Football Playoff as well as concludes a chaotic full week for a sports department that was at the same time dealing with the most up to date round of association realignment in college athletics.UNLV formally determined to stay in the Hill West on Thursday, declining a relocate to the Pac-12 observing that game's add-on of Boise Condition, Colorado State, Fresno Condition, San Diego Condition and Utah State for 2026. The seven remaining colleges in the Mountain range West accepted to a grant of legal rights that will certainly bind them to the association through 2031-32. After actually defeating Huge 12 participants Houston and Kansas in nonconference play, UNLV receives another possibility to take down an Energy 4 opponent and also reinforce its own CFP ru00e9sumu00e9 when it holds 3-1 Syracuse on Friday." Our guys will turn the web page truly promptly," Odom pointed out. "I can tell in the locker space we're ready to perform that and get on to the following video game.".