.Max Olson, ESPN Team WriterSep 28, 2024, 08:48 PM ETCloseCovers the Huge 12Joined ESPN in 2012Graduate of the College of NebraskaLAS LAS VEGA-- UNLV brought in a claim Sunday in its initial activity without former beginning quarterback Matthew Sluka: The Rebels are going to be just fine.Rolling to a prevalent 59-14 win over Fresno Condition as well as moving to 4-0, UNLV verified it'll be actually an opponent in the Mountain range West race no matter its own quarterback change.Hajj-Malik Williams tossed for 182 lawns, rushed for 119 backyards and made up 4 complete goals in his first begin for the Rebels after Sluka decided to leave the course on Wednesday over an issue regarding his NIL compensation." It was organization customarily," UNLV coach Barry Odom claimed. "Our company've received a quite fully grown staff. ... Our players, our team've obtained tough management. They understand the mission that our team're on as well as they obtained it done." Williams, a sixth-year senior and also FCS transmission from Campbell, signed up with the Rebels in January and shed a close competition with Sluka in autumn camping ground. The 24-year-old quarterback played in 41 activities at Campbell, leaving as the program's profession innovator in passing lawns and goals, and also awaited his chance." I believed he worked, I believed he was actually efficient," Odom mentioned. "I assumed the annoying line performed a remarkable task guarding him. I believed the receivers managed wonderful paths. I presumed the runners operated hard. Our experts participated in well as an outburst." UNLV wide receiver Ricky White III led the Rebels along with a season-high 10 catches for 127 backyards as well as pair of touchdowns and also said the quarterback change was actually "definitely suitable for our company."" He's merely a fantastic quarterback that our team, as an outburst, our team can rally at the back of and also simply go by his rate," White said.After starting 3 ready UNLV, Sluka chose to redshirt as well as is actually expected to go into the move gateway in December. Sluka's daddy and also representative have actually alleged he was vocally vowed $100,000 by UNLV repulsive planner Brennan Marion throughout his recruitment yet acquired simply $3,000 coming from the institution's NIL aggregate. UNLV said in a statement that Sluka's reps made economic requirements for him to always keep participating in that it interpreted as "a violation of NCAA pay-for-play rules, as well as Nevada condition law." Editor's Picks2 RelatedOdom checked out from a well prepared declaration during the course of his postgame press conference and carried out certainly not take questions concerning Sluka. He pointed out UNLV complied with relevant guidelines as well as is actually dedicated to the development as well as excellence of every player in the course." Many have actually conveyed extremely solid viewpoints concerning the occasions of last week without total expertise of the facts, without full understanding of the celebrations of last week and also without complete knowledge of the regulation in the ever-changing, advancing NIL body," Odom claimed. "As well as sadly, some have actually even used this situation as a platform for their own schedules. I value everybody's right to a viewpoint, as well as I will not comment on others' point of views or even their inspirations for sharing all of them." White likewise had a notification for Circa Athletics Chief Executive Officer Derek Stevens after the Vegas casino expressed passion in delivering $100,000 to keep Sluka on the staff, informing the Sin city Review-Journal that doing so would certainly be worth it "to keep the Rebels' playoff really hopes active."" I will inquire that a person connect to the Circa CEO as well as ask him, keeping that $100,000 that he intended to give away, give it to our O-line please," White said.The Rebels popped a six-game losing streak versus Fresno State and also obtained the course's very first 4-0 start given that 1976 with a sturdy day in every 3 phases of the video game. Their protection created 4 interceptions and also 4 sacks while permitting only 30 rushing gardens, and their exclusive crews provided an obstructed punting that White came back for a goal in the very first quarter plus a 90-yard first profit touchdown by Jai'Den Thomas in the fourth quarter.The triumph maintains UNLV in the competition for the expanded 12-team College Regulation football Playoff and ends a turbulent full week for a sports department that was at the same time dealing with the latest sphere of event adjustment in college athletics.UNLV officially chose to remain in the Mountain range West on Thursday, declining a transfer to the Pac-12 following that league's addition of Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno Condition, San Diego State and also Utah Condition for 2026. The 7 staying colleges in the Mountain range West accepted a give of liberties that are going to bind them to the association by means of 2031-32. After already defeating Major 12 members Houston and also Kansas in nonconference play, UNLV gets one more opportunity to take down an Electrical power 4 enemy as well as strengthen its own CFP ru00e9sumu00e9 when it throws 3-1 Syracuse on Friday." Our men will certainly flip the web page actually quickly," Odom stated. "I could possibly tell in the closet space we're ready to carry out that and hop on to the following video game.".