.Max Olson, ESPN Personnel WriterSep 28, 2024, 08:48 PM ETCloseCovers the Major 12Joined ESPN in 2012Graduate of the Educational Institution of NebraskaLAS VEGAS-- UNLV brought in a claim Sunday in its initial activity without previous starting quarterback Matthew Sluka: The Rebels are visiting be actually merely fine.Rolling to a dominant 59-14 gain Fresno State as well as transferring to 4-0, UNLV confirmed it'll be actually a challenger in the Mountain range West race irrespective of its own quarterback change.Hajj-Malik Williams tossed for 182 yards, rushed for 119 lawns as well as represented four complete touchdowns in his first start for the Rebels after Sluka chose to leave the program on Wednesday over a conflict about his NIL payment." It was actually company customarily," UNLV coach Barry Odom mentioned. "Our company've received a really fully grown group. ... Our gamers, we've obtained sturdy leadership. They comprehend the objective that our company perform and they acquired it done." Williams, a sixth-year elderly and FCS move from Campbell, joined the Rebels in January and also dropped a close competition along with Sluka in loss camping ground. The 24-year-old quarterback played in 41 games at Campbell, leaving behind as the plan's job forerunner in passing yards and also touchdowns, as well as awaited his possibility." I assumed he was effective, I presumed he was actually reliable," Odom pointed out. "I presumed the offensive line performed an incredible job protecting him. I thought the recipients managed fantastic routes. I assumed the distance runners ran hard. We played effectively as an offense." UNLV pass receiver Ricky White III led the Rebels with a season-high 10 catches for 127 gardens as well as two goals as well as mentioned the quarterback modification was "absolutely good for us."" He's just a great quarterback that our team, as an offense, our company may rally at the back of and also only pass his speed," White said.After starting 3 games for UNLV, Sluka chose to redshirt and also is actually anticipated to get into the transfer website in December. Sluka's papa as well as agent have alleged he was verbally guaranteed $100,000 by UNLV repulsive planner Brennan Marion throughout his recruitment yet got only $3,000 from the school's NIL aggregate. UNLV stated in a statement that Sluka's agents created monetary demands for him to maintain playing that it took "a transgression of NCAA pay-for-play policies, in addition to Nevada condition regulation." Editor's Picks2 RelatedOdom gone through coming from an equipped statement during his postgame press conference and also did certainly not take questions regarding Sluka. He pointed out UNLV observed applicable regulations as well as is committed to the growth as well as results of every gamer in the course." Numerous have actually shared extremely sturdy opinions about the events of recently without full know-how of the realities, without full knowledge of the celebrations of recently and also without full know-how of the regulation in the ever-changing, evolving NIL device," Odom pointed out. "As well as regrettably, some have actually even used this circumstance as a system for their personal agendas. I value everyone's right to an opinion, and I will not comment on others' opinions or their motivations for conveying them." White likewise possessed a message for Circa Sports CEO Derek Stevens after the Vegas gambling establishment showed interest in giving $100,000 to always keep Sluka on the crew, telling the Sin city Review-Journal that accomplishing this will cost it "to always keep the Rebels' playoff wishes active."" I would certainly talk to that someone connect to the Circa chief executive officer as well as inquire him, with that said $100,000 that he wished to give, give it to our O-line feel free to," White said.The Rebels snapped a six-game losing streak against Fresno State and also obtained the system's 1st 4-0 beginning since 1976 along with a tough time in every 3 periods of the video game. Their defense produced four interceptions and also 4 sacks while enabling just 30 hurrying yards, as well as their special groups delivered a blocked punting that White returned for a touchdown in the initial fourth plus a 90-yard kickoff yield goal through Jai'Den Thomas in the 4th quarter.The triumph always keeps UNLV in the race for the expanded 12-team College Regulation football Playoff as well as wraps up a chaotic full week for a sports division that was at the same time dealing with the current around of conference realignment in college athletics.UNLV officially decided to remain in the Mountain range West on Thursday, denying a move to the Pac-12 following that game's addition of Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno Condition, San Diego State and Utah Condition for 2026. The 7 continuing to be universities in the Mountain West agreed to a give of civil liberties that will definitely tie all of them to the conference via 2031-32. After currently defeating Huge 12 members Houston as well as Kansas in nonconference play, UNLV acquires one more chance to take down an Energy 4 opponent and reinforce its CFP ru00e9sumu00e9 when it holds 3-1 Syracuse on Friday." Our fellas will definitely flip the webpage definitely promptly," Odom stated. "I could inform in the storage locker area our company're ready to perform that and get on to the following activity.".