.Max Olson, ESPN Personnel WriterSep 28, 2024, 08:48 PM ETCloseCovers the Huge 12Joined ESPN in 2012Graduate of the Educational Institution of NebraskaLAS LAS VEGA-- UNLV created a declaration Sunday in its first activity without previous starting quarterback Matthew Sluka: The Rebels are heading to be simply fine.Rolling to a prevalent 59-14 draw Fresno Condition and transferring to 4-0, UNLV proved it'll be an opponent in the Hill West race despite its quarterback change.Hajj-Malik Williams threw for 182 gardens, rushed for 119 yards and also made up four total touchdowns in his very first begin for the Rebels after Sluka decided to leave behind the plan on Wednesday over an issue concerning his NIL compensation." It was actually service as usual," UNLV train Barry Odom mentioned. "Our company have actually got a quite fully grown crew. ... Our gamers, our experts have actually received powerful leadership. They know the mission that our experts're on and they got it performed." Williams, a sixth-year elderly and also FCS transmission coming from Campbell, participated in the Rebels in January and lost a close competition along with Sluka in loss camp. The 24-year-old quarterback played in 41 games at Campbell, leaving as the program's occupation forerunner in passing gardens and also touchdowns, and was ready for his opportunity." I believed he was effective, I presumed he was dependable," Odom claimed. "I presumed the repulsive line did a remarkable task guarding him. I assumed the receivers managed wonderful routes. I presumed the joggers ran hard. Our company participated in effectively as an offense." UNLV pass receiver Ricky White III led the Rebels with a season-high 10 catches for 127 lawns and also two goals and also claimed the quarterback modification was actually "certainly suitable for our company."" He's simply a wonderful quarterback that our team, as an offense, our experts can rally behind and only pass his pace," White said.After beginning three ready UNLV, Sluka opted to redshirt as well as is expected to get into the transfer portal in December. Sluka's dad as well as broker have alleged he was actually vocally guaranteed $100,000 by UNLV objectionable coordinator Brennan Marion in the course of his employment but received merely $3,000 coming from the college's NIL cumulative. UNLV pointed out in a claim that Sluka's representatives made monetary needs for him to maintain participating in that it interpreted as "a transgression of NCAA pay-for-play policies, in addition to Nevada condition rule." Publisher's Picks2 RelatedOdom checked out from a ready statement during the course of his postgame press conference and did not take concerns pertaining to Sluka. He said UNLV complied with applicable guidelines and is committed to the development and also success of every gamer in the course." A lot of have actually shared very sturdy opinions about the events of last week without complete expertise of the realities, without complete understanding of the occasions of recently as well as without complete knowledge of the rules in the ever-changing, evolving NIL body," Odom said. "And regrettably, some have also utilized this instance as a platform for their very own schedules. I respect every person's right to an opinion, and I won't discuss others' opinions or even their incentives for revealing them." White likewise had a notification for Circa Athletics CEO Derek Stevens after the Las vega gambling establishment expressed interest in supplying $100,000 to keep Sluka on the team, telling the Las Vegas Review-Journal that doing so would certainly cost it "to maintain the Rebels' playoff hopes active."" I will talk to that a person reach out to the Circa CEO and inquire him, with that $100,000 that he desired to give, give it to our O-line please," White said.The Rebels broke a six-game losing touch against Fresno Condition as well as accomplished the plan's initial 4-0 start due to the fact that 1976 along with a powerful day with all three periods of the activity. Their protection produced four interceptions as well as four sacks while allowing simply 30 hurrying gardens, and also their special crews supplied a blocked punting that White returned for a goal in the first quarter plus a 90-yard first yield goal by Jai'Den Thomas in the fourth quarter.The victory maintains UNLV in the competition for the increased 12-team University Soccer Playoff and also wraps up a disorderly week for a sports division that was actually concurrently handling the most recent around of association realignment in college athletics.UNLV officially made a decision to remain in the Hill West on Thursday, refusing a move to the Pac-12 complying with that league's addition of Boise State, Colorado Condition, Fresno Condition, San Diego Condition as well as Utah Condition for 2026. The seven staying colleges in the Mountain range West agreed to a grant of legal rights that are going to bind all of them to the conference with 2031-32. After presently beating Huge 12 participants Houston and also Kansas in nonconference play, UNLV gets another possibility to take down an Electrical power 4 rival as well as enhance its own CFP ru00e9sumu00e9 when it holds 3-1 Syracuse on Friday." Our fellas will certainly flip the page actually swiftly," Odom claimed. "I can say to in the closet space we prepare to carry out that as well as climb on to the following game.".