.Maximum Olson, ESPN Personnel WriterSep 28, 2024, 08:48 PM ETCloseCovers the Huge 12Joined ESPN in 2012Graduate of the Educational Institution of NebraskaLAS VEGAS-- UNLV made a statement Saturday in its 1st activity without past starting quarterback Matthew Sluka: The Rebels are actually heading to be actually only fine.Rolling to a leading 59-14 win over Fresno State and also moving to 4-0, UNLV confirmed it'll be a challenger in the Mountain West competition irrespective of its own quarterback change.Hajj-Malik Williams tossed for 182 backyards, rushed for 119 lawns and also made up four total goals in his initial begin for the Rebels after Sluka decided to leave the program on Wednesday over a dispute regarding his NIL compensation." It was business as usual," UNLV instructor Barry Odom stated. "We've got a really mature group. ... Our gamers, we have actually received strong management. They understand the mission that we're on and also they received it performed." Williams, a sixth-year senior and also FCS transactions from Campbell, joined the Rebels in January and dropped a close competition with Sluka in loss camping ground. The 24-year-old quarterback played in 41 games at Campbell, leaving behind as the program's career forerunner in passing yards and touchdowns, as well as was ready for his possibility." I believed he was effective, I believed he was dependable," Odom mentioned. "I believed the objectionable line carried out an enormous work safeguarding him. I believed the receivers managed terrific options. I thought the joggers operated hard. Our company participated in well as an outburst." UNLV pass receiver Ricky White III led the Rebels along with a season-high 10 drawbacks for 127 gardens and also 2 goals as well as mentioned the quarterback improvement was actually "most definitely helpful for our team."" He is actually merely an excellent quarterback that us, as an offense, our experts can rally at the back of as well as merely go by his rate," White said.After beginning 3 games for UNLV, Sluka chose to redshirt and is anticipated to enter into the move site in December. Sluka's father as well as agent have actually affirmed he was verbally promised $100,000 through UNLV annoying coordinator Brennan Marion during his employment however got only $3,000 from the university's NIL collective. UNLV mentioned in a statement that Sluka's representatives made financial requirements for him to maintain participating in that it interpreted as "an infraction of NCAA pay-for-play guidelines, and also Nevada condition regulation." Publisher's Picks2 RelatedOdom reviewed from a well prepared declaration throughout his postgame press conference and did not take questions relating to Sluka. He said UNLV followed relevant regulations and also is actually committed to the advancement and also success of every gamer in the plan." A lot of have actually conveyed very tough viewpoints regarding the occasions of last week without full know-how of the realities, without total knowledge of the activities of last week and without complete know-how of the rules in the ever-changing, growing NIL body," Odom stated. "And also unfortunately, some have actually even used this scenario as a system for their very own programs. I value everyone's right to a point of view, and I won't discuss others' point of views or their incentives for sharing them." White likewise possessed an information for Circa Athletics CEO Derek Stevens after the Las vega casino site conveyed interest in delivering $100,000 to always keep Sluka on the staff, telling the Las Vegas Review-Journal that accomplishing this will deserve it "to always keep the Rebels' playoff wishes active."" I will inquire that somebody communicate to the Circa chief executive officer and ask him, with that said $100,000 that he intended to donate, give it to our O-line feel free to," White said.The Rebels snapped a six-game losing streak against Fresno Condition and also achieved the system's very first 4-0 begin given that 1976 with a strong day in each three stages of the game. Their defense produced four interceptions and also four sacks while permitting only 30 rushing backyards, and also their special groups provided an obstructed punting that White returned for a touchdown in the first one-fourth plus a 90-yard first yield goal by Jai'Den Thomas in the 4th quarter.The victory always keeps UNLV in the race for the expanded 12-team University Football Playoff and also wraps up a disorderly week for a sports team that was actually concurrently handling the latest sphere of association adjustment in college athletics.UNLV officially made a decision to continue to be in the Mountain West on Thursday, declining a transfer to the Pac-12 following that game's add-on of Boise Condition, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State and Utah State for 2026. The seven staying institutions in the Mountain range West consented to a give of rights that will definitely tie them to the association with 2031-32. After currently beating Large 12 members Houston and also Kansas in nonconference play, UNLV receives one more chance to take down an Electrical power 4 enemy as well as enhance its own CFP ru00e9sumu00e9 when it throws 3-1 Syracuse on Friday." Our people will definitely flip the web page really rapidly," Odom pointed out. "I could possibly inform in the storage locker space we're ready to carry out that and also hop on to the upcoming video game.".