.Max Olson, ESPN Team WriterSep 28, 2024, 08:48 PM ETCloseCovers the Major 12Joined ESPN in 2012Graduate of the Educational Institution of NebraskaLAS LAS VEGA-- UNLV made a claim Saturday in its own very first activity without past beginning quarterback Matthew Sluka: The Rebels are actually going to be simply fine.Rolling to a leading 59-14 get Fresno State and transferring to 4-0, UNLV showed it'll be a competitor in the Mountain West race no matter its quarterback change.Hajj-Malik Williams tossed for 182 yards, hurried for 119 lawns and also accounted for four overall touchdowns in his initial begin for the Rebels after Sluka decided to leave the program on Wednesday over a disagreement about his NIL remuneration." It was business customarily," UNLV instructor Barry Odom mentioned. "Our experts've obtained an incredibly fully grown crew. ... Our players, we've received tough management. They understand the mission that our experts're on and also they obtained it performed." Williams, a sixth-year senior and also FCS transactions from Campbell, signed up with the Rebels in January and also lost a close competitors with Sluka in autumn camping ground. The 24-year-old quarterback played in 41 video games at Campbell, leaving as the course's career innovator in passing gardens as well as touchdowns, and awaited his option." I believed he was effective, I assumed he was dependable," Odom claimed. "I believed the annoying line did an incredible job defending him. I presumed the recipients operated excellent options. I thought the joggers ran hard. Our experts played well as an offense." UNLV wide receiver Ricky White III led the Rebels with a season-high 10 drawbacks for 127 gardens and pair of goals and said the quarterback modification was "most definitely helpful for us."" He's merely a great quarterback that our team, as an offense, our experts can rally at the back of and also merely pass his pace," White said.After starting three games for UNLV, Sluka opted to redshirt and also is actually expected to get into the transmission website in December. Sluka's father and broker have actually affirmed he was actually verbally guaranteed $100,000 through UNLV objectionable organizer Brennan Marion during the course of his employment yet received merely $3,000 from the college's NIL cumulative. UNLV claimed in a declaration that Sluka's representatives created monetary demands for him to maintain participating in that it interpreted as "a violation of NCAA pay-for-play policies, as well as Nevada condition legislation." Publisher's Picks2 RelatedOdom read through coming from a well prepared claim during his postgame news conference and did certainly not take inquiries relating to Sluka. He said UNLV adhered to applicable policies as well as is committed to the development as well as effectiveness of every gamer in the program." Numerous have expressed quite powerful opinions concerning the events of last week without full expertise of the simple facts, without total know-how of the events of last week and without full know-how of the rules in the ever-changing, advancing NIL unit," Odom pointed out. "And also regrettably, some have even utilized this condition as a system for their very own plans. I value everybody's right to an opinion, as well as I will not discuss others' opinions or even their inspirations for sharing all of them." White additionally possessed an information for Circa Athletics CEO Derek Stevens after the Vegas gambling enterprise showed enthusiasm in using $100,000 to maintain Sluka on the team, informing the Sin city Review-Journal that accomplishing this would be worth it "to maintain the Rebels' playoff really hopes alive."" I would certainly ask that someone reach out to the Circa CEO as well as ask him, keeping that $100,000 that he wished to give, inflict our O-line please," White said.The Rebels snapped a six-game losing streak versus Fresno Condition and accomplished the plan's initial 4-0 beginning considering that 1976 with a solid time in all three phases of the video game. Their self defense generated four interceptions as well as 4 sacks while allowing just 30 hurrying backyards, and their unique groups supplied a blocked punting that White returned for a goal in the initial one-fourth plus a 90-yard first profit goal by Jai'Den Thomas in the 4th quarter.The triumph always keeps UNLV in the competition for the increased 12-team University Regulation football Playoff and also ends a chaotic full week for an athletic team that was actually at the same time coping with the latest sphere of event realignment in college athletics.UNLV officially decided to stay in the Mountain West on Thursday, denying a relocate to the Pac-12 adhering to that league's enhancement of Boise State, Colorado Condition, Fresno Condition, San Diego Condition and Utah Condition for 2026. The 7 continuing to be institutions in the Mountain range West consented to a grant of legal rights that are going to bind all of them to the association with 2031-32. After currently beating Huge 12 members Houston as well as Kansas in nonconference play, UNLV acquires one more opportunity to take down a Power 4 challenger and also boost its CFP ru00e9sumu00e9 when it hosts 3-1 Syracuse on Friday." Our guys will definitely turn the web page actually promptly," Odom claimed. "I could possibly say to in the closet area our experts prepare to perform that and also get on to the following video game.".