.Max Olson, ESPN Workers WriterSep 28, 2024, 08:48 PM ETCloseCovers the Major 12Joined ESPN in 2012Graduate of the College of NebraskaLAS VEGAS-- UNLV brought in a statement Sunday in its own 1st activity without former starting quarterback Matthew Sluka: The Rebels are actually mosting likely to be actually simply fine.Rolling to a prevalent 59-14 gain Fresno Condition and also moving to 4-0, UNLV verified it'll be actually a competitor in the Mountain West competition despite its own quarterback change.Hajj-Malik Williams threw for 182 backyards, rushed for 119 gardens and represented four overall goals in his first start for the Rebels after Sluka chose to leave the program on Wednesday over a conflict about his NIL settlement." It was actually business as usual," UNLV trainer Barry Odom claimed. "Our experts've obtained a really fully grown crew. ... Our gamers, our company've received powerful management. They understand the purpose that our team perform and also they received it performed." Williams, a sixth-year senior and FCS transactions from Campbell, participated in the Rebels in January and dropped a near competition with Sluka in fall camp. The 24-year-old quarterback played in 41 video games at Campbell, leaving as the course's job forerunner in passing lawns as well as touchdowns, and awaited his possibility." I presumed he worked, I assumed he was actually dependable," Odom stated. "I believed the outrageous line carried out a tremendous work defending him. I thought the recipients operated fantastic routes. I presumed the distance runners managed hard. We participated in effectively as an outburst." UNLV pass receiver Ricky White III led the Rebels with a season-high 10 drawbacks for 127 lawns as well as two touchdowns and stated the quarterback change was "undoubtedly good for us."" He is actually simply an excellent quarterback that our team, as an offense, our company may rally behind and also only pass his pace," White said.After starting three games for UNLV, Sluka opted to redshirt and also is anticipated to go into the transfer website in December. Sluka's papa and also agent have actually alleged he was vocally promised $100,000 by UNLV repulsive organizer Brennan Marion during the course of his recruitment yet received just $3,000 from the university's NIL cumulative. UNLV said in a declaration that Sluka's representatives made economic needs for him to maintain participating in that it took "an infraction of NCAA pay-for-play guidelines, in addition to Nevada condition law." Publisher's Picks2 RelatedOdom read through coming from an equipped statement during his postgame news conference and performed not take concerns regarding Sluka. He said UNLV observed applicable policies and is actually committed to the advancement and also excellence of every player in the course." Numerous have actually shared extremely powerful viewpoints concerning the events of recently without complete understanding of the facts, without complete expertise of the celebrations of last week and also without complete know-how of the regulation in the ever-changing, progressing NIL system," Odom said. "And sadly, some have actually also used this instance as a platform for their own plans. I respect every person's right to a point of view, and I won't talk about others' opinions or even their motivations for expressing them." White likewise had an information for Circa Sports CEO Derek Stevens after the Las vega casino site expressed interest in using $100,000 to keep Sluka on the group, saying to the Las Vegas Review-Journal that doing so would certainly cost it "to keep the Rebels' playoff hopes alive."" I would ask that somebody communicate to the Circa CEO and inquire him, with that said $100,000 that he would like to donate, inflict our O-line please," White said.The Rebels snapped a six-game losing touch against Fresno Condition as well as accomplished the program's first 4-0 beginning given that 1976 along with a solid day in all 3 stages of the game. Their defense produced four interceptions and also 4 sacks while allowing just 30 hurrying backyards, as well as their exclusive crews provided a blocked punting that White returned for a goal in the first quarter plus a 90-yard first return goal by Jai'Den Thomas in the 4th quarter.The triumph always keeps UNLV in the race for the expanded 12-team University Regulation football Playoff and also concludes a turbulent week for an athletic division that was at the same time dealing with the latest around of association adjustment in university athletics.UNLV officially determined to remain in the Mountain West on Thursday, refusing a transfer to the Pac-12 complying with that game's enhancement of Boise Condition, Colorado Condition, Fresno State, San Diego Condition and Utah Condition for 2026. The 7 staying universities in the Mountain West consented to a grant of legal rights that are going to bind all of them to the event via 2031-32. After currently beating Large 12 participants Houston as well as Kansas in nonconference play, UNLV acquires one more chance to remove an Energy 4 enemy and also reinforce its CFP ru00e9sumu00e9 when it organizes 3-1 Syracuse on Friday." Our men are going to flip the web page truly quickly," Odom stated. "I could tell in the closet room our company prepare to perform that and also climb on to the following activity.".