.Max Olson, ESPN Team WriterSep 28, 2024, 08:48 PM ETCloseCovers the Significant 12Joined ESPN in 2012Graduate of the College of NebraskaLAS VEGAS-- UNLV brought in a declaration Sunday in its own very first game without previous beginning quarterback Matthew Sluka: The Rebels are actually visiting be just fine.Rolling to a prevalent 59-14 win over Fresno Condition and relocating to 4-0, UNLV verified it'll be actually a competitor in the Hill West race despite its own quarterback change.Hajj-Malik Williams tossed for 182 gardens, hurried for 119 backyards and also accounted for 4 total goals in his very first beginning for the Rebels after Sluka opted to leave behind the system on Wednesday over a dispute regarding his NIL compensation." It was business customarily," UNLV trainer Barry Odom mentioned. "Our experts have actually obtained a really mature staff. ... Our gamers, our company have actually acquired tough management. They comprehend the mission that our team get on as well as they got it carried out." Williams, a sixth-year elderly and FCS transmission coming from Campbell, joined the Rebels in January as well as dropped a close competitors along with Sluka in loss camping ground. The 24-year-old quarterback played in 41 video games at Campbell, leaving as the plan's career innovator in passing yards and goals, and also was ready for his possibility." I believed he worked, I thought he was actually dependable," Odom pointed out. "I thought the offending line performed a significant work safeguarding him. I believed the receivers managed wonderful options. I thought the runners managed hard. Our company played properly as an offense." UNLV wide receiver Ricky White III led the Rebels with a season-high 10 drawbacks for 127 backyards and pair of touchdowns and also claimed the quarterback change was actually "undoubtedly suitable for our team."" He is actually just a fantastic quarterback that us, as an offense, our experts may move behind and also simply pass his pace," White said.After beginning three ready UNLV, Sluka chose to redshirt as well as is actually anticipated to go into the transmission gateway in December. Sluka's dad and also agent have declared he was actually vocally promised $100,000 by UNLV objectionable coordinator Brennan Marion during his employment but received merely $3,000 coming from the institution's NIL collective. UNLV mentioned in a declaration that Sluka's reps made monetary needs for him to keep playing that it interpreted as "a transgression of NCAA pay-for-play regulations, as well as Nevada condition rule." Publisher's Picks2 RelatedOdom read through from an equipped statement in the course of his postgame press conference and performed certainly not take inquiries relating to Sluka. He said UNLV complied with appropriate rules as well as is actually committed to the growth and success of every player in the course." Lots of have actually revealed incredibly solid point of views about the occasions of recently without full know-how of the truths, without complete knowledge of the occasions of last week and without complete know-how of the regulation in the ever-changing, developing NIL unit," Odom said. "And also unfortunately, some have even utilized this condition as a system for their very own programs. I respect every person's right to a point of view, as well as I won't discuss others' viewpoints or their motivations for conveying them." White additionally possessed an information for Circa Sports CEO Derek Stevens after the Vegas gambling enterprise revealed passion in delivering $100,000 to keep Sluka on the crew, informing the Las Vegas Review-Journal that doing so would cost it "to maintain the Rebels' playoff hopes to life."" I will inquire that somebody communicate to the Circa chief executive officer and also inquire him, with that said $100,000 that he wished to give away, give it to our O-line feel free to," White said.The Rebels popped a six-game losing touch against Fresno Condition and also attained the plan's initial 4-0 beginning considering that 1976 with a solid time with all 3 periods of the activity. Their defense created 4 interceptions and also four sacks while enabling just 30 hurrying backyards, and their exclusive teams delivered a shut out punting that White returned for a touchdown in the initial fourth plus a 90-yard first return touchdown by Jai'Den Thomas in the fourth quarter.The victory maintains UNLV in the competition for the grown 12-team University Regulation football Playoff and also ends a disorderly full week for a sports team that was actually at the same time taking care of the most recent around of event adjustment in college athletics.UNLV formally chose to stay in the Hill West on Thursday, denying a relocate to the Pac-12 following that game's enhancement of Boise Condition, Colorado State, Fresno Condition, San Diego State and also Utah State for 2026. The 7 remaining schools in the Mountain range West consented to a grant of liberties that will bind all of them to the association with 2031-32. After presently beating Significant 12 participants Houston and Kansas in nonconference play, UNLV receives another chance to remove an Electrical power 4 opponent and also enhance its own CFP ru00e9sumu00e9 when it organizes 3-1 Syracuse on Friday." Our guys will definitely flip the web page actually rapidly," Odom pointed out. "I can say to in the storage locker area we prepare to accomplish that and also get on to the following activity.".