.Max Olson, ESPN Workers WriterSep 28, 2024, 08:48 PM ETCloseCovers the Major 12Joined ESPN in 2012Graduate of the Educational Institution of NebraskaLAS VEGAS-- UNLV created a claim Saturday in its 1st video game without former beginning quarterback Matthew Sluka: The Rebels are actually going to be merely fine.Rolling to a dominant 59-14 win over Fresno State and transferring to 4-0, UNLV showed it'll be actually a challenger in the Mountain West competition irrespective of its quarterback change.Hajj-Malik Williams threw for 182 yards, rushed for 119 lawns as well as represented 4 complete goals in his initial start for the Rebels after Sluka decided to leave the plan on Wednesday over a dispute about his NIL settlement." It was actually company customarily," UNLV train Barry Odom claimed. "Our team have actually got an extremely mature team. ... Our gamers, our company have actually obtained powerful leadership. They recognize the objective that we get on and also they got it carried out." Williams, a sixth-year senior as well as FCS transmission coming from Campbell, joined the Rebels in January as well as lost a close competition along with Sluka in autumn camp. The 24-year-old quarterback played in 41 games at Campbell, leaving behind as the course's occupation leader in passing gardens and also goals, as well as awaited his possibility." I believed he worked, I presumed he was dependable," Odom stated. "I presumed the annoying line performed an enormous work securing him. I presumed the recipients managed excellent paths. I presumed the distance runners operated hard. Our company played well as an offense." UNLV pass receiver Ricky White III led the Rebels along with a season-high 10 drawbacks for 127 backyards as well as pair of touchdowns and said the quarterback adjustment was actually "undoubtedly great for us."" He's merely a fantastic quarterback that our company, as an outburst, our company can rally behind as well as just pass his pace," White said.After beginning three games for UNLV, Sluka chose to redshirt and is expected to enter the transactions website in December. Sluka's papa and also agent have alleged he was vocally vowed $100,000 through UNLV offensive planner Brennan Marion throughout his employment yet obtained only $3,000 coming from the university's NIL collective. UNLV stated in a claim that Sluka's representatives made monetary needs for him to maintain participating in that it took "an infraction of NCAA pay-for-play guidelines, and also Nevada condition law." Publisher's Picks2 RelatedOdom read coming from a prepared statement during the course of his postgame press conference and performed not take concerns pertaining to Sluka. He pointed out UNLV complied with relevant policies as well as is committed to the advancement and success of every player in the program." Lots of have actually expressed incredibly tough opinions about the events of recently without full expertise of the truths, without complete know-how of the occasions of recently and without full understanding of the regulation in the ever-changing, advancing NIL body," Odom stated. "And unfortunately, some have actually even used this situation as a platform for their personal schedules. I value everybody's right to an opinion, and I won't discuss others' point of views or even their incentives for expressing all of them." White likewise had a message for Circa Athletics Chief Executive Officer Derek Stevens after the Vegas gambling establishment expressed enthusiasm in supplying $100,000 to keep Sluka on the team, telling the Las Vegas Review-Journal that accomplishing this will cost it "to maintain the Rebels' playoff really hopes to life."" I would certainly talk to that a person communicate to the Circa chief executive officer and inquire him, with that said $100,000 that he wished to give, give it to our O-line satisfy," White said.The Rebels broke a six-game losing streak against Fresno Condition as well as obtained the system's very first 4-0 beginning given that 1976 along with a powerful day in all 3 periods of the video game. Their protection made four interceptions and also four sacks while allowing just 30 rushing yards, and also their special teams delivered a shut out punting that White returned for a goal in the very first fourth plus a 90-yard kickoff yield touchdown through Jai'Den Thomas in the 4th quarter.The triumph keeps UNLV in the race for the expanded 12-team University Football Playoff as well as ends a turbulent week for a sports division that was actually all at once managing the most up to date around of conference adjustment in university athletics.UNLV officially decided to stay in the Mountain range West on Thursday, refusing a move to the Pac-12 observing that organization's addition of Boise Condition, Colorado State, Fresno Condition, San Diego State and Utah Condition for 2026. The 7 staying universities in the Mountain West accepted a grant of liberties that are going to tie all of them to the event through 2031-32. After presently defeating Huge 12 members Houston as well as Kansas in nonconference play, UNLV gets one more opportunity to remove an Energy 4 opponent and enhance its own CFP ru00e9sumu00e9 when it organizes 3-1 Syracuse on Friday." Our people will definitely turn the web page really rapidly," Odom pointed out. "I can tell in the closet space we prepare to do that and also jump on to the next video game.".