.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 brought in a claim Saturday in its own first activity without past beginning quarterback Matthew Sluka: The Rebels are heading to be actually simply fine.Rolling to a prevalent 59-14 gain Fresno Condition and also relocating to 4-0, UNLV showed it'll be a challenger in the Mountain West race no matter its own quarterback change.Hajj-Malik Williams threw for 182 gardens, hurried for 119 lawns as well as made up four complete touchdowns in his very first start for the Rebels after Sluka decided to leave behind the system on Wednesday over a dispute concerning his NIL remuneration." It was actually service as usual," UNLV instructor Barry Odom claimed. "We have actually got a very fully grown group. ... Our players, our team've obtained tough leadership. They recognize the mission that our company're on and they got it performed." Williams, a sixth-year senior and also FCS transmission from Campbell, signed up with the Rebels in January as well as dropped a close competition with Sluka in fall camp. The 24-year-old quarterback played in 41 games at Campbell, leaving behind as the course's occupation innovator in passing yards and touchdowns, as well as was ready for his possibility." I presumed he worked, I presumed he was dependable," Odom mentioned. "I presumed the outrageous line did a remarkable task protecting him. I believed the recipients operated fantastic routes. I believed the runners managed hard. Our experts participated in properly as an offense." UNLV wide receiver Ricky White III led the Rebels along with a season-high 10 catches for 127 gardens and also pair of goals as well as pointed out the quarterback improvement was "definitely great for our company."" He is actually just a great quarterback that our team, as an outburst, our experts can rally at the rear of and also only go by his speed," White said.After starting three games for UNLV, Sluka decided to redshirt and also is expected to enter into the transactions portal in December. Sluka's daddy and agent have declared he was actually verbally promised $100,000 by UNLV annoying coordinator Brennan Marion throughout his employment however acquired merely $3,000 coming from the university's NIL aggregate. UNLV mentioned in a statement that Sluka's reps made economic demands for him to keep playing that it took "a violation of NCAA pay-for-play policies, as well as Nevada condition rule." Publisher's Picks2 RelatedOdom read coming from a ready statement in the course of his postgame news conference as well as performed not take concerns regarding Sluka. He pointed out UNLV abided by appropriate policies as well as is devoted to the growth as well as effectiveness of every gamer in the plan." A lot of have actually expressed very tough point of views regarding the events of recently without full expertise of the facts, without total understanding of the occasions of last week as well as without full expertise of the rules in the ever-changing, developing NIL body," Odom said. "As well as unfortunately, some have even used this instance as a platform for their own plans. I appreciate every person's right to an opinion, as well as I won't talk about others' opinions or their inspirations for expressing them." White likewise possessed an information for Circa Athletics CEO Derek Stevens after the Vegas casino site showed rate of interest in giving $100,000 to keep Sluka on the group, telling the Las Vegas Review-Journal that doing this will deserve it "to keep the Rebels' playoff wishes active."" I would certainly inquire that someone connect to the Circa chief executive officer and also inquire him, with that said $100,000 that he intended to contribute, give it to our O-line feel free to," White said.The Rebels popped a six-game losing streak against Fresno Condition as well as achieved the plan's very first 4-0 start due to the fact that 1976 along with a tough time in all 3 periods of the game. Their protection created 4 interceptions as well as four sacks while allowing merely 30 hurrying yards, and also their exclusive groups provided a blocked punt that White returned for a touchdown in the first one-fourth plus a 90-yard first profit touchdown by Jai'Den Thomas in the fourth quarter.The victory maintains UNLV in the race for the grown 12-team College Soccer Playoff and concludes a turbulent week for a sports team that was all at once taking care of the most up to date sphere of conference realignment in college athletics.UNLV formally determined to remain in the Hill West on Thursday, disapproving a move to the Pac-12 complying with that game's enhancement of Boise Condition, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego Condition and Utah Condition for 2026. The seven staying colleges in the Hill West consented to a grant of civil liberties that will certainly bind them to the association through 2031-32. After currently defeating Significant 12 participants Houston and Kansas in nonconference play, UNLV obtains another chance to take down an Electrical power 4 challenger and also boost its own CFP ru00e9sumu00e9 when it hosts 3-1 Syracuse on Friday." Our guys will definitely turn the page definitely rapidly," Odom mentioned. "I could possibly tell in the closet space our experts prepare to carry out that and hop on to the following game.".