.Max Olson, ESPN Personnel WriterSep 28, 2024, 08:48 PM ETCloseCovers the Big 12Joined ESPN in 2012Graduate of the University of NebraskaLAS LAS VEGA-- UNLV created a claim Saturday in its 1st activity without previous beginning quarterback Matthew Sluka: The Rebels are actually going to be actually only fine.Rolling to a leading 59-14 win over Fresno Condition and also relocating to 4-0, UNLV confirmed it'll be a contender in the Mountain West race regardless of its own quarterback change.Hajj-Malik Williams tossed for 182 lawns, hurried for 119 gardens as well as accounted for 4 complete goals in his initial begin for the Rebels after Sluka opted to leave behind the program on Wednesday over a dispute about his NIL remuneration." It was business as usual," UNLV instructor Barry Odom mentioned. "We've obtained an incredibly mature team. ... Our players, our experts've received sturdy leadership. They comprehend the mission that we get on and they acquired it carried out." Williams, a sixth-year elderly as well as FCS transmission from Campbell, signed up with the Rebels in January and also shed a near competition with Sluka in loss camping ground. The 24-year-old quarterback played in 41 video games at Campbell, leaving behind as the system's career leader in passing yards and goals, as well as was ready for his opportunity." I thought he was effective, I believed he was actually reliable," Odom claimed. "I assumed the offensive line carried out a remarkable job defending him. I presumed the receivers operated excellent options. I assumed the runners managed hard. Our team played properly as an outburst." UNLV wide receiver Ricky White III led the Rebels with a season-high 10 drawbacks for 127 backyards and pair of goals and pointed out the quarterback modification was "undoubtedly helpful for our company."" He is actually only a fantastic quarterback that our company, as an outburst, our team may move at the back of as well as simply go by his pace," White said.After beginning three games for UNLV, Sluka chose to redshirt as well as is anticipated to go into the move website in December. Sluka's papa as well as broker have affirmed he was actually verbally promised $100,000 by UNLV objectionable organizer Brennan Marion in the course of his recruitment however got just $3,000 coming from the institution's NIL collective. UNLV pointed out in a statement that Sluka's reps created monetary requirements for him to always keep playing that it took "an infraction of NCAA pay-for-play guidelines, and also Nevada state regulation." Editor's Picks2 RelatedOdom read coming from an equipped claim during the course of his postgame press conference and also did certainly not take questions regarding Sluka. He mentioned UNLV followed suitable policies as well as is dedicated to the progression and also results of every gamer in the plan." Many have shown very sturdy viewpoints concerning the occasions of recently without total expertise of the simple facts, without full expertise of the activities of last week and without total know-how of the regulation in the ever-changing, evolving NIL device," Odom pointed out. "And also sadly, some have actually even used this circumstance as a platform for their very own agendas. I respect every person's right to an opinion, as well as I will not discuss others' opinions or their incentives for sharing them." White likewise possessed a notification for Circa Sports Chief Executive Officer Derek Stevens after the Vegas casino revealed passion in giving $100,000 to always keep Sluka on the group, saying to the Las Vegas Review-Journal that doing this would deserve it "to always keep the Rebels' playoff really hopes alive."" I would talk to that someone connect to the Circa CEO and inquire him, with that $100,000 that he intended to give away, give it to our O-line satisfy," White said.The Rebels snapped a six-game losing touch versus Fresno Condition and also achieved the course's initial 4-0 beginning given that 1976 along with a tough day in all 3 phases of the game. Their self defense created four interceptions and also four sacks while permitting simply 30 rushing gardens, and also their unique crews provided a shut out punting that White returned for a goal in the 1st quarter plus a 90-yard first return touchdown by Jai'Den Thomas in the fourth quarter.The success keeps UNLV in the race for the grown 12-team College Regulation football Playoff and also ends a disorderly full week for an athletic team that was at the same time coping with the current round of association adjustment in college athletics.UNLV formally made a decision to continue to be in the Mountain range West on Thursday, refusing a transfer to the Pac-12 complying with that league's enhancement of Boise State, Colorado Condition, Fresno State, San Diego State and Utah State for 2026. The 7 remaining institutions in the Mountain range West accepted a give of rights that will tie all of them to the association via 2031-32. After already beating Huge 12 members Houston and Kansas in nonconference play, UNLV gets another opportunity to remove a Power 4 opponent and also enhance its CFP ru00e9sumu00e9 when it holds 3-1 Syracuse on Friday." Our guys will turn the webpage actually quickly," Odom pointed out. "I could tell in the storage locker space our company're ready to perform that and climb on to the upcoming game.".