.Maximum Olson, ESPN Staff WriterSep 28, 2024, 08:48 PM ETCloseCovers the Big 12Joined ESPN in 2012Graduate of the University of NebraskaLAS LAS VEGA-- UNLV created a declaration Saturday in its own first activity without former starting quarterback Matthew Sluka: The Rebels are going to be simply fine.Rolling to a prevalent 59-14 sway Fresno Condition and relocating to 4-0, UNLV verified it'll be a challenger in the Hill West competition irrespective of its own quarterback change.Hajj-Malik Williams tossed for 182 yards, hurried for 119 backyards and made up four total goals in his initial beginning for the Rebels after Sluka opted to leave the program on Wednesday over a conflict concerning his NIL remuneration." It was company customarily," UNLV trainer Barry Odom stated. "Our team have actually received a quite mature team. ... Our gamers, our team've obtained sturdy leadership. They recognize the goal that our company're on and also they obtained it carried out." Williams, a sixth-year elderly as well as FCS move from Campbell, signed up with the Rebels in January as well as shed a near competitors along with Sluka in loss camp. The 24-year-old quarterback played in 41 activities at Campbell, leaving as the program's profession forerunner in passing backyards and touchdowns, as well as was ready for his opportunity." I believed he worked, I believed he was efficient," Odom claimed. "I presumed the annoying line performed an enormous work shielding him. I assumed the receivers managed great options. I assumed the runners managed hard. Our team played properly as an offense." UNLV pass receiver Ricky White III led the Rebels with a season-high 10 catches for 127 backyards and two goals and also stated the quarterback change was "definitely helpful for us."" He's just an excellent quarterback that our company, as an offense, we may rally behind and also only go by his rate," White said.After starting three games for UNLV, Sluka chose to redshirt and also is actually counted on to go into the transmission portal in December. Sluka's father and broker have actually declared he was verbally vowed $100,000 through UNLV offending organizer Brennan Marion during his employment yet got simply $3,000 from the university's NIL collective. UNLV pointed out in a statement that Sluka's agents created financial needs for him to maintain participating in that it interpreted as "a transgression of NCAA pay-for-play rules, in addition to Nevada state regulation." Publisher's Picks2 RelatedOdom checked out from a well prepared statement throughout his postgame press conference and also carried out certainly not take inquiries regarding Sluka. He pointed out UNLV adhered to relevant policies and also is dedicated to the progression and results of every player in the program." Lots of have actually shown incredibly sturdy viewpoints about the occasions of recently without full understanding of the truths, without total expertise of the celebrations of last week and without total knowledge of the rules in the ever-changing, advancing NIL device," Odom stated. "And also unfortunately, some have also utilized this scenario as a platform for their own plans. I value every person's right to an opinion, and I won't discuss others' point of views or even their inspirations for expressing all of them." White also possessed a notification for Circa Athletics CEO Derek Stevens after the Vegas online casino showed enthusiasm in using $100,000 to always keep Sluka on the group, informing the Las Vegas Review-Journal that accomplishing this will cost it "to maintain the Rebels' playoff hopes to life."" I would certainly talk to that someone connect to the Circa CEO and inquire him, with that said $100,000 that he wished to give away, inflict our O-line feel free to," White said.The Rebels broke a six-game losing touch versus Fresno Condition and accomplished the course's very first 4-0 start because 1976 along with a strong day in each 3 phases of the video game. Their defense made four interceptions and also four sacks while making it possible for just 30 rushing backyards, and their exclusive teams supplied a blocked punt that White returned for a touchdown in the initial quarter plus a 90-yard kickoff profit goal by Jai'Den Thomas in the fourth quarter.The success keeps UNLV in the competition for the extended 12-team College Regulation football Playoff and also concludes a turbulent week for a sports division that was actually simultaneously coping with the current round of association realignment in college athletics.UNLV officially determined to remain in the Mountain range West on Thursday, rejecting a transfer to the Pac-12 observing that organization's addition of Boise Condition, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State and also Utah State for 2026. The 7 continuing to be universities in the Mountain range West accepted a give of civil liberties that will bind them to the conference via 2031-32. After presently defeating Large 12 participants Houston and also Kansas in nonconference play, UNLV gets another possibility to take down an Energy 4 rival and also enhance its own CFP ru00e9sumu00e9 when it hosts 3-1 Syracuse on Friday." Our fellas will turn the webpage definitely rapidly," Odom mentioned. "I could possibly inform in the locker space our team prepare to perform that as well as hop on to the following game.".