.Max Olson, ESPN Personnel WriterSep 28, 2024, 08:48 PM ETCloseCovers the Significant 12Joined ESPN in 2012Graduate of the Educational Institution of NebraskaLAS LAS VEGA-- UNLV brought in a claim Saturday in its very first video game without previous beginning quarterback Matthew Sluka: The Rebels are actually going to be just fine.Rolling to a dominant 59-14 get Fresno Condition and relocating to 4-0, UNLV proved it'll be a competitor in the Mountain West race no matter its quarterback change.Hajj-Malik Williams threw for 182 backyards, hurried for 119 gardens and accounted for four total touchdowns in his first beginning for the Rebels after Sluka decided to leave the plan on Wednesday over a conflict regarding his NIL settlement." It was actually business as usual," UNLV trainer Barry Odom mentioned. "We have actually acquired a quite mature team. ... Our players, we've received powerful management. They recognize the goal that our team get on as well as they obtained it carried out." Williams, a sixth-year senior and also FCS transactions from Campbell, participated in the Rebels in January and also dropped a close competition along with Sluka in fall camping ground. The 24-year-old quarterback played in 41 games at Campbell, leaving as the course's career forerunner in passing backyards and touchdowns, and also awaited his possibility." I assumed he was effective, I presumed he was actually efficient," Odom claimed. "I presumed the objectionable line did an incredible job shielding him. I assumed the receivers operated excellent courses. I believed the runners managed hard. Our team participated in properly as an offense." UNLV wide receiver Ricky White III led the Rebels along with a season-high 10 catches for 127 yards as well as pair of goals and also claimed the quarterback adjustment was actually "certainly helpful for our company."" He's merely a wonderful quarterback that our company, as an outburst, we may move behind as well as simply pass his speed," White said.After beginning three ready UNLV, Sluka opted to redshirt as well as is expected to enter into the move portal in December. Sluka's daddy and also agent have actually affirmed he was actually vocally promised $100,000 through UNLV repulsive organizer Brennan Marion during the course of his recruitment yet got merely $3,000 from the school's NIL collective. UNLV stated 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 policies, as well as Nevada condition law." Editor's Picks2 RelatedOdom gone through coming from a ready statement in the course of his postgame news conference and did not take concerns relating to Sluka. He mentioned UNLV followed suitable policies as well as is actually devoted to the development and effectiveness of every gamer in the program." Lots of have actually revealed incredibly solid opinions concerning the activities of recently without complete expertise of the truths, without complete knowledge of the activities of last week as well as without total know-how of the regulation in the ever-changing, advancing NIL body," Odom mentioned. "As well as unfortunately, some have also used this instance as a platform for their very own schedules. I recognize everyone's right to a viewpoint, as well as I won't comment on others' point of views or even their motivations for showing all of them." White also possessed an information for Circa Athletics CEO Derek Stevens after the Las vega gambling establishment expressed interest in using $100,000 to always keep Sluka on the crew, telling the Sin city Review-Journal that doing this will deserve it "to keep the Rebels' playoff hopes to life."" I will inquire that a person connect to the Circa chief executive officer 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 popped a six-game losing streak against Fresno Condition and also accomplished the course's first 4-0 begin since 1976 with a tough time in all three stages of the video game. Their defense made four interceptions and also 4 sacks while permitting just 30 hurrying yards, as well as their exclusive staffs delivered a shut out punt that White returned for a touchdown in the 1st fourth plus a 90-yard kickoff profit goal through Jai'Den Thomas in the fourth quarter.The success always keeps UNLV in the competition for the broadened 12-team University Soccer Playoff as well as ends a chaotic week for a sports division that was at the same time managing the latest around of association realignment in college athletics.UNLV officially decided to remain in the Mountain West on Thursday, rejecting a transfer to the Pac-12 complying with that game's enhancement of Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego Condition as well as Utah Condition for 2026. The 7 continuing to be colleges in the Hill West accepted a give of civil rights that will tie all of them to the association via 2031-32. After currently beating Major 12 participants Houston and also Kansas in nonconference play, UNLV gets one more option to take down an Energy 4 opponent as well as strengthen its own CFP ru00e9sumu00e9 when it holds 3-1 Syracuse on Friday." Our fellas are going to flip the web page truly swiftly," Odom stated. "I can tell in the locker area our team're ready to perform that and also get on to the next activity.".