.Maximum Olson, ESPN Team WriterSep 28, 2024, 08:48 PM ETCloseCovers the Big 12Joined ESPN in 2012Graduate of the College of NebraskaLAS VEGAS-- UNLV brought in a statement Sunday in its own very first video game without former starting quarterback Matthew Sluka: The Rebels are going to be actually merely fine.Rolling to a leading 59-14 draw Fresno State and transferring to 4-0, UNLV proved it'll be a contender in the Hill West race despite its own quarterback change.Hajj-Malik Williams tossed for 182 yards, hurried for 119 gardens and also accounted for four overall goals in his first begin for the Rebels after Sluka opted to leave behind the system on Wednesday over a dispute about his NIL compensation." It was actually organization customarily," UNLV coach Barry Odom stated. "We have actually got a very mature team. ... Our players, we've got solid management. They recognize the mission that our team perform as well as they got it carried out." Williams, a sixth-year senior as well as FCS move coming from Campbell, joined the Rebels in January and shed a near competition along with Sluka in autumn camp. The 24-year-old quarterback played in 41 video games at Campbell, leaving as the course's job forerunner in passing backyards as well as goals, as well as awaited his possibility." I assumed he was effective, I believed he was actually reliable," Odom mentioned. "I assumed the repulsive line did an incredible task guarding him. I assumed the recipients operated wonderful courses. I thought the joggers ran hard. Our company participated in properly as an offense." UNLV wide receiver Ricky White III led the Rebels with a season-high 10 catches for 127 lawns and pair of touchdowns and also said the quarterback adjustment was "most definitely great for us."" He is actually merely a fantastic quarterback that our team, as an offense, our team may rally at the back of and also only go by his speed," White said.After starting 3 games for UNLV, Sluka opted to redshirt and also is anticipated to enter the transmission website in December. Sluka's papa as well as broker have alleged he was vocally guaranteed $100,000 through UNLV offending organizer Brennan Marion during his employment however received only $3,000 from the institution's NIL aggregate. UNLV stated in a statement that Sluka's representatives created financial needs for him to always keep participating in that it took "a violation of NCAA pay-for-play guidelines, in addition to Nevada condition law." Publisher's Picks2 RelatedOdom read coming from a well prepared claim throughout his postgame press conference as well as did not take inquiries pertaining to Sluka. He pointed out UNLV complied with appropriate regulations and is actually devoted to the progression and also success of every gamer in the system." Several have revealed really powerful point of views concerning the activities of last week without total understanding of the facts, without full know-how of the celebrations of recently and also without complete know-how of the regulation in the ever-changing, developing NIL system," Odom stated. "As well as unfortunately, some have actually also utilized this situation as a platform for their personal programs. I respect every person's right to an opinion, as well as I will not talk about others' viewpoints or even their incentives for expressing them." White additionally had an information for Circa Athletics CEO Derek Stevens after the Vegas online casino showed interest in offering $100,000 to maintain Sluka on the team, telling the Sin city Review-Journal that doing this would deserve it "to keep the Rebels' playoff hopes alive."" I will talk to that a person communicate to the Circa chief executive officer as well as ask him, with that said $100,000 that he desired to give away, inflict our O-line satisfy," White said.The Rebels popped a six-game losing touch against Fresno Condition and also obtained the program's 1st 4-0 start considering that 1976 with a tough time with all three stages of the activity. Their protection generated four interceptions as well as 4 sacks while allowing only 30 rushing gardens, as well as their special crews supplied a shut out punt that White returned for a touchdown in the 1st quarter plus a 90-yard kickoff profit touchdown through Jai'Den Thomas in the 4th quarter.The triumph maintains UNLV in the competition for the extended 12-team University Regulation football Playoff and also ends a disorderly full week for an athletic division that was all at once coping with the most recent round of conference adjustment in college athletics.UNLV formally determined to remain in the Hill West on Thursday, disapproving a transfer to the Pac-12 observing that organization's add-on of Boise Condition, Colorado Condition, Fresno Condition, San Diego Condition as well as Utah State for 2026. The 7 continuing to be colleges in the Hill West accepted a grant of liberties that are going to tie them to the association by means of 2031-32. After already beating Significant 12 participants Houston and Kansas in nonconference play, UNLV obtains one more possibility to remove a Power 4 opponent and also boost its own CFP ru00e9sumu00e9 when it hosts 3-1 Syracuse on Friday." Our fellas will certainly flip the page truly rapidly," Odom stated. "I can tell in the storage locker space our experts're ready to accomplish that and also get on to the next video game.".