.Max Olson, ESPN Team WriterSep 28, 2024, 08:48 PM ETCloseCovers the Huge 12Joined ESPN in 2012Graduate of the College of NebraskaLAS LAS VEGA-- UNLV made a claim Sunday in its initial activity without previous beginning quarterback Matthew Sluka: The Rebels are actually going to be actually just fine.Rolling to a leading 59-14 get Fresno Condition and also moving to 4-0, UNLV proved it'll be actually a contender in the Mountain range West race despite its quarterback change.Hajj-Malik Williams tossed for 182 gardens, rushed for 119 gardens and made up 4 overall touchdowns in his initial start for the Rebels after Sluka chose to leave behind the system on Wednesday over a disagreement regarding his NIL settlement." It was actually company customarily," UNLV train Barry Odom claimed. "Our team've got a quite fully grown team. ... Our players, our company have actually obtained strong management. They understand the objective that we get on and they received it done." Williams, a sixth-year senior as well as FCS move from Campbell, participated in the Rebels in January and also shed a close competitors with Sluka in autumn camping ground. The 24-year-old quarterback played in 41 games at Campbell, leaving behind as the program's profession forerunner in passing lawns and goals, and awaited his opportunity." I assumed he worked, I thought he was actually effective," Odom pointed out. "I thought the repulsive line performed a tremendous task shielding him. I assumed the receivers managed great courses. I thought the distance runners managed hard. Our team played effectively as an outburst." UNLV wide receiver Ricky White III led the Rebels along with a season-high 10 drawbacks for 127 gardens and also 2 goals and also pointed out the quarterback modification was actually "absolutely great for our company."" He is actually just a terrific quarterback that us, as an outburst, our team may move behind as well as merely go by his speed," White said.After starting three ready UNLV, Sluka chose to redshirt and is actually expected to enter the transmission gateway in December. Sluka's papa and also representative have alleged he was vocally promised $100,000 through UNLV annoying organizer Brennan Marion during his recruitment but received only $3,000 coming from the college's NIL collective. UNLV said in a claim that Sluka's reps made economic demands for him to maintain playing that it took "an offense of NCAA pay-for-play guidelines, along with Nevada state legislation." Publisher's Picks2 RelatedOdom read coming from an equipped claim during his postgame news conference and did certainly not take questions relating to Sluka. He said UNLV abided by applicable rules and also is actually committed to the growth and also effectiveness of every gamer in the course." Lots of have actually shared very strong viewpoints about the activities of last week without complete knowledge of the simple facts, without total knowledge of the activities of last week as well as without total understanding of the rules in the ever-changing, evolving NIL device," Odom pointed out. "As well as sadly, some have also used this circumstance as a platform for their own plans. I respect everyone's right to a point of view, and I won't comment on others' point of views or even their motivations for expressing them." White likewise had a message for Circa Athletics CEO Derek Stevens after the Vegas casino site conveyed enthusiasm in offering $100,000 to maintain Sluka on the team, telling the Las Vegas Review-Journal that doing this would deserve it "to maintain the Rebels' playoff really hopes to life."" I would certainly ask that a person reach out to the Circa CEO and also ask him, with that said $100,000 that he wished to give, inflict our O-line satisfy," White said.The Rebels broke a six-game losing streak against Fresno State and achieved the plan's first 4-0 start since 1976 with a powerful time in every 3 stages of the video game. Their protection produced 4 interceptions and 4 sacks while enabling just 30 hurrying lawns, and their special staffs supplied an obstructed punting that White returned for a touchdown in the first fourth plus a 90-yard kickoff return goal through Jai'Den Thomas in the fourth quarter.The victory always keeps UNLV in the race for the grown 12-team University Soccer Playoff and concludes a disorderly full week for an athletic division that was actually simultaneously coping with the current around of event realignment in university athletics.UNLV formally decided to remain in the Hill West on Thursday, turning down a move to the Pac-12 observing that organization's add-on of Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno Condition, San Diego Condition and Utah Condition for 2026. The seven remaining schools in the Mountain range West accepted to a give of civil rights that are going to tie all of them to the conference with 2031-32. After presently defeating Large 12 participants Houston and also Kansas in nonconference play, UNLV receives another chance to remove an Electrical power 4 opponent as well as enhance its CFP ru00e9sumu00e9 when it holds 3-1 Syracuse on Friday." Our guys will flip the web page truly quickly," Odom stated. "I might tell in the storage locker area our team prepare to accomplish that and also get on to the following activity.".