.Max Olson, ESPN Personnel WriterSep 28, 2024, 08:48 PM ETCloseCovers the Major 12Joined ESPN in 2012Graduate of the College of NebraskaLAS VEGAS-- UNLV made a declaration Sunday in its 1st activity without previous beginning quarterback Matthew Sluka: The Rebels are mosting likely to be actually merely fine.Rolling to a dominant 59-14 get Fresno Condition and moving to 4-0, UNLV confirmed it'll be actually a contender in the Mountain West race regardless of its own quarterback change.Hajj-Malik Williams threw for 182 gardens, rushed for 119 backyards as well as made up four overall touchdowns in his 1st beginning for the Rebels after Sluka decided to leave the plan on Wednesday over a disagreement regarding his NIL remuneration." It was actually company customarily," UNLV trainer Barry Odom said. "We have actually acquired a very fully grown team. ... Our gamers, our team have actually received solid leadership. They know the goal that our team get on and also they received it carried out." Williams, a sixth-year elderly and FCS transfer coming from Campbell, signed up with the Rebels in January and also lost a near competitors along with Sluka in fall camp. The 24-year-old quarterback played in 41 activities at Campbell, leaving as the plan's occupation leader in passing gardens and also goals, and also was ready for his possibility." I presumed he worked, I believed he was reliable," Odom claimed. "I assumed the repulsive line carried out a tremendous project securing him. I assumed the recipients operated excellent routes. I believed the distance runners managed hard. We played well as an outburst." UNLV pass receiver Ricky White III led the Rebels along with a season-high 10 drawbacks for 127 gardens as well as 2 goals and also said the quarterback change was actually "most definitely suitable for us."" He's just a wonderful quarterback that our company, as an offense, we may rally behind as well as simply pass his speed," White said.After starting three games for UNLV, Sluka chose to redshirt as well as is expected to enter the transactions website in December. Sluka's dad and broker have affirmed he was verbally assured $100,000 through UNLV outrageous planner Brennan Marion during the course of his employment however acquired merely $3,000 coming from the college's NIL collective. UNLV claimed in a statement that Sluka's agents made economic demands for him to always keep playing that it interpreted as "a violation of NCAA pay-for-play rules, along with Nevada condition law." Editor's Picks2 RelatedOdom checked out from a prepared declaration during the course of his postgame news conference as well as performed not take questions relating to Sluka. He pointed out UNLV followed suitable rules and is committed to the progression and also success of every gamer in the course." Several have actually shared really sturdy opinions about the activities of recently without complete know-how of the simple facts, without full expertise of the celebrations of recently and also without total knowledge of the regulation in the ever-changing, growing NIL system," Odom said. "And sadly, some have also utilized this situation as a system for their own agendas. I respect every person's right to an opinion, and also I won't comment on others' viewpoints or their incentives for revealing them." White also possessed a notification for Circa Athletics CEO Derek Stevens after the Las vega gambling establishment showed enthusiasm in supplying $100,000 to always keep Sluka on the team, informing the Las Vegas Review-Journal that doing so will be worth it "to maintain the Rebels' playoff really hopes active."" I would ask that someone connect to the Circa CEO and inquire him, with that $100,000 that he wished to give, inflict our O-line satisfy," White said.The Rebels broke a six-game losing streak versus Fresno State as well as achieved the plan's very first 4-0 beginning given that 1976 along with a solid day in each three stages of the activity. Their self defense produced four interceptions and four sacks while making it possible for only 30 hurrying backyards, and their exclusive crews supplied a blocked out punting that White returned for a goal in the very first one-fourth plus a 90-yard kickoff profit touchdown through Jai'Den Thomas in the fourth quarter.The triumph always keeps UNLV in the race for the expanded 12-team University Football Playoff as well as wraps up a chaotic week for an athletic division that was concurrently dealing with the latest sphere of conference adjustment in university athletics.UNLV formally chose to stay in the Hill West on Thursday, refusing a transfer to the Pac-12 complying with that organization's enhancement of Boise Condition, Colorado Condition, Fresno Condition, San Diego Condition and also Utah State for 2026. The 7 staying colleges in the Mountain range West agreed to a grant of rights that will certainly tie all of them to the event by means of 2031-32. After actually defeating Huge 12 participants Houston as well as Kansas in nonconference play, UNLV receives one more chance to remove a Power 4 challenger and also boost its own CFP ru00e9sumu00e9 when it throws 3-1 Syracuse on Friday." Our fellas will flip the page truly quickly," Odom stated. "I could tell in the closet area our team prepare to perform that and also hop on to the following video game.".