.Max Olson, ESPN Workers WriterSep 28, 2024, 08:48 PM ETCloseCovers the Big 12Joined ESPN in 2012Graduate of the Educational Institution of NebraskaLAS LAS VEGA-- UNLV made a claim Saturday in its own first activity without past starting quarterback Matthew Sluka: The Rebels are heading to be actually just fine.Rolling to a prevalent 59-14 get Fresno State as well as transferring to 4-0, UNLV confirmed it'll be an opponent in the Hill West competition irrespective of its quarterback change.Hajj-Malik Williams threw for 182 yards, hurried for 119 lawns and also represented 4 overall goals in his first start for the Rebels after Sluka decided to leave the program on Wednesday over a dispute about his NIL payment." It was actually company as usual," UNLV coach Barry Odom said. "Our experts've obtained a quite mature crew. ... Our gamers, our company've got powerful leadership. They understand the purpose that we're on and they acquired it carried out." Williams, a sixth-year elderly and also FCS transmission from Campbell, joined the Rebels in January and also lost a near competitors with Sluka in loss camp. The 24-year-old quarterback played in 41 games at Campbell, leaving behind as the program's career leader in passing gardens and also goals, as well as awaited his option." I presumed he worked, I assumed he was actually dependable," Odom pointed out. "I presumed the offensive line did an incredible job safeguarding him. I presumed the recipients managed wonderful courses. I presumed the distance runners operated hard. Our team played properly as an offense." UNLV wide receiver Ricky White III led the Rebels along with a season-high 10 catches for 127 backyards and two goals and also mentioned the quarterback improvement was "definitely good for our company."" He's simply an excellent quarterback that our company, as an offense, our team may move behind and also just pass his rate," White said.After starting three ready UNLV, Sluka opted to redshirt as well as is actually expected to go into the move portal in December. Sluka's papa as well as broker have actually affirmed he was vocally guaranteed $100,000 by UNLV outrageous organizer Brennan Marion in the course of his recruitment yet got just $3,000 from the school's NIL cumulative. UNLV claimed in a statement that Sluka's representatives made economic requirements for him to keep participating in that it interpreted as "an infraction of NCAA pay-for-play rules, along with Nevada state rule." Publisher's Picks2 RelatedOdom reviewed coming from a ready declaration in the course of his postgame press conference and also did certainly not take questions pertaining to Sluka. He claimed UNLV followed suitable guidelines and also is devoted to the growth and effectiveness of every gamer in the program." Lots of have actually revealed extremely strong viewpoints concerning the occasions of recently without complete knowledge of the facts, without complete know-how of the occasions of last week and without full expertise of the rules in the ever-changing, growing NIL unit," Odom said. "And unfortunately, some have actually even utilized this scenario as a system for their very own agendas. I value everyone's right to a viewpoint, and also I won't discuss others' viewpoints or their inspirations for sharing all of them." White additionally had a notification for Circa Athletics Chief Executive Officer Derek Stevens after the Las vega casino site expressed passion in supplying $100,000 to keep Sluka on the team, informing the Las Vegas Review-Journal that accomplishing this would certainly cost it "to always keep the Rebels' playoff wishes to life."" I would inquire that a person reach out to the Circa chief executive officer and ask him, keeping that $100,000 that he intended to donate, give it to our O-line please," White said.The Rebels snapped a six-game losing touch versus Fresno Condition and also obtained the course's initial 4-0 begin since 1976 along with a strong day in all 3 phases of the game. Their self defense created four interceptions as well as 4 sacks while enabling only 30 rushing gardens, as well as their special crews supplied an obstructed punt that White returned for a goal in the initial fourth plus a 90-yard first profit touchdown through Jai'Den Thomas in the fourth quarter.The triumph maintains UNLV in the competition for the grown 12-team College Regulation football Playoff as well as concludes a turbulent week for an athletic division that was actually concurrently handling the latest around of association adjustment in college athletics.UNLV formally made a decision to stay in the Hill West on Thursday, declining a transfer to the Pac-12 complying with that league's add-on of Boise Condition, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State as well as Utah State for 2026. The 7 remaining universities in the Hill West agreed to a give of liberties that will definitely bind all of them to the association with 2031-32. After actually beating Huge 12 participants Houston and Kansas in nonconference play, UNLV gets one more chance to take down an Electrical power 4 opponent and reinforce its CFP ru00e9sumu00e9 when it hosts 3-1 Syracuse on Friday." Our men will definitely turn the web page definitely swiftly," Odom stated. "I might say to in the storage locker space our team're ready to accomplish that and also climb on to the following video game.".