.Max Olson, ESPN Team WriterSep 28, 2024, 08:48 PM ETCloseCovers the Significant 12Joined ESPN in 2012Graduate of the University of NebraskaLAS VEGAS-- UNLV created a statement Saturday in its very first activity without former beginning quarterback Matthew Sluka: The Rebels are actually mosting likely to be merely fine.Rolling to a leading 59-14 sway Fresno State as well as relocating to 4-0, UNLV proved it'll be an opponent in the Mountain West race despite its own quarterback change.Hajj-Malik Williams threw for 182 lawns, hurried for 119 gardens and also represented four overall touchdowns in his first begin for the Rebels after Sluka chose to leave behind the system on Wednesday over a disagreement concerning his NIL settlement." It was organization as usual," UNLV instructor Barry Odom pointed out. "Our company have actually obtained an incredibly mature team. ... Our players, we have actually got powerful management. They know the purpose that our experts perform as well as they received it carried out." Williams, a sixth-year senior and also FCS transmission from Campbell, signed up with the Rebels in January and dropped a close competition along with Sluka in autumn camp. The 24-year-old quarterback played in 41 video games at Campbell, leaving behind as the program's career forerunner in passing yards and also touchdowns, as well as was ready for his option." I thought he was effective, I believed he was reliable," Odom claimed. "I presumed the outrageous line carried out an incredible task defending him. I assumed the receivers managed terrific paths. I believed the joggers ran hard. We played properly as an outburst." UNLV wide receiver Ricky White III led the Rebels along with a season-high 10 catches for 127 lawns as well as 2 goals and also mentioned the quarterback improvement was actually "definitely suitable for our company."" He's simply a fantastic quarterback that us, as an offense, our team may move behind as well as only go by his pace," White said.After starting 3 ready UNLV, Sluka chose to redshirt and also is actually anticipated to get in the transactions gateway in December. Sluka's father as well as broker have actually alleged he was actually verbally promised $100,000 by UNLV offending coordinator Brennan Marion during the course of his employment yet obtained just $3,000 from the college's NIL cumulative. UNLV said in a declaration that Sluka's representatives created financial requirements for him to always keep participating in that it interpreted as "a transgression of NCAA pay-for-play regulations, in addition to Nevada condition law." Editor's Picks2 RelatedOdom gone through from a prepared declaration in the course of his postgame news conference as well as carried out not take inquiries relating to Sluka. He said UNLV followed suitable policies and is dedicated to the growth and success of every gamer in the course." Lots of have conveyed incredibly strong point of views regarding the celebrations of recently without complete understanding of the realities, without full know-how of the activities of recently and also without complete understanding of the regulation in the ever-changing, growing NIL system," Odom claimed. "And unfortunately, some have also used this scenario as a platform for their very own plans. I recognize everybody's right to an opinion, and also I won't comment on others' opinions or even their inspirations for showing them." White also had an information for Circa Sports Chief Executive Officer Derek Stevens after the Las vega gambling enterprise shared passion in using $100,000 to maintain Sluka on the group, telling the Sin city Review-Journal that doing this will deserve it "to keep the Rebels' playoff wishes active."" I would certainly talk to that somebody connect to the Circa CEO as well as inquire him, with that $100,000 that he wished to donate, give it to our O-line please," White said.The Rebels popped a six-game losing streak versus Fresno Condition and also attained the system's very first 4-0 beginning because 1976 along with a solid day in every 3 periods of the video game. Their defense produced four interceptions and 4 sacks while enabling just 30 hurrying yards, as well as their special crews delivered a blocked out punt that White came back for a goal in the first fourth plus a 90-yard kickoff profit goal through Jai'Den Thomas in the fourth quarter.The victory always keeps UNLV in the race for the extended 12-team University Football Playoff as well as concludes a chaotic week for a sports division that was actually all at once dealing with the current sphere of association realignment in college athletics.UNLV officially chose to stay in the Mountain West on Thursday, declining a move to the Pac-12 observing that organization's addition of Boise State, Colorado Condition, Fresno State, San Diego State and also Utah Condition for 2026. The seven remaining schools in the Mountain range West accepted a give of civil rights that will tie all of them to the association by means of 2031-32. After presently beating Large 12 participants Houston and also Kansas in nonconference play, UNLV gets one more option to remove a Power 4 enemy as well as strengthen its own CFP ru00e9sumu00e9 when it organizes 3-1 Syracuse on Friday." Our individuals will definitely flip the web page really swiftly," Odom mentioned. "I might tell in the locker space our team prepare to do that and also hop on to the next video game.".