.Max Olson, ESPN Workers 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 initial activity without former starting quarterback Matthew Sluka: The Rebels are going to be actually only fine.Rolling to a dominant 59-14 draw Fresno State as well as relocating to 4-0, UNLV proved it'll be a contender in the Mountain range West race regardless of its quarterback change.Hajj-Malik Williams tossed for 182 yards, rushed for 119 backyards and accounted for four overall touchdowns in his first beginning for the Rebels after Sluka decided to leave the program on Wednesday over a conflict concerning his NIL compensation." It was actually company customarily," UNLV trainer Barry Odom pointed out. "Our company've got a very mature staff. ... Our players, we've obtained tough leadership. They comprehend the mission that our team're on and also they acquired it performed." Williams, a sixth-year senior and FCS move coming from Campbell, joined the Rebels in January and also shed a near competition along with Sluka in loss camp. The 24-year-old quarterback played in 41 video games at Campbell, leaving behind as the course's career forerunner in passing yards and also goals, as well as awaited his opportunity." I assumed he was effective, I assumed he was actually reliable," Odom pointed out. "I presumed the annoying line carried out a remarkable work defending him. I assumed the recipients ran excellent options. I thought the distance runners ran hard. Our company played effectively as an offense." UNLV wide receiver Ricky White III led the Rebels along with a season-high 10 drawbacks for 127 lawns and also pair of goals as well as said the quarterback improvement was actually "certainly good for our company."" He is actually simply a wonderful quarterback that our company, as an outburst, our company can move at the back of and merely go by his speed," White said.After starting three games for UNLV, Sluka decided to redshirt and is expected to get in the transactions gateway in December. Sluka's dad and broker have affirmed he was actually verbally guaranteed $100,000 through UNLV offending planner Brennan Marion during his recruitment yet acquired only $3,000 coming from the college's NIL collective. UNLV mentioned in a statement that Sluka's agents created economic demands for him to always keep playing that it took "an offense of NCAA pay-for-play regulations, along with Nevada state rule." Editor's Picks2 RelatedOdom read from an equipped statement throughout his postgame press conference and also performed certainly not take concerns concerning Sluka. He pointed out UNLV complied with applicable regulations as well as is committed to the development as well as excellence of every gamer in the course." Lots of have actually shown incredibly sturdy viewpoints regarding the occasions of recently without total expertise of the realities, without full knowledge of the events of last week and also without complete understanding of the regulation in the ever-changing, advancing NIL body," Odom said. "As well as unfortunately, some have actually also used this circumstance as a system for their personal schedules. I respect everybody's right to a point of view, and also I won't talk about others' opinions or even their incentives for conveying them." White likewise had a message for Circa Sports CEO Derek Stevens after the Las vega online casino showed enthusiasm in supplying $100,000 to always keep Sluka on the group, telling the Sin city Review-Journal that accomplishing this would certainly deserve it "to maintain the Rebels' playoff hopes active."" I would certainly talk to that a person reach out to the Circa CEO and also inquire him, keeping that $100,000 that he desired to donate, give it to our O-line feel free to," White said.The Rebels broke a six-game losing touch against Fresno State as well as achieved the program's 1st 4-0 beginning given that 1976 along with a powerful day in every 3 periods of the video game. Their self defense created 4 interceptions as well as 4 sacks while permitting merely 30 hurrying gardens, and also their exclusive crews delivered a shut out punt that White came back for a goal in the initial quarter plus a 90-yard kickoff return goal by Jai'Den Thomas in the fourth quarter.The triumph always keeps UNLV in the competition for the increased 12-team University Soccer Playoff and concludes a turbulent full week for a sports department that was all at once managing the current round of conference realignment in university athletics.UNLV formally determined to stay in the Mountain range West on Thursday, declining a transfer to the Pac-12 observing that game's addition of Boise State, Colorado Condition, Fresno Condition, San Diego State and also Utah State for 2026. The 7 continuing to be universities in the Mountain range West agreed to a grant of civil liberties that are going to bind all of them to the event via 2031-32. After presently beating Huge 12 participants Houston and also Kansas in nonconference play, UNLV acquires another option to remove a Power 4 challenger and strengthen its CFP ru00e9sumu00e9 when it throws 3-1 Syracuse on Friday." Our individuals are going to turn the webpage really quickly," Odom stated. "I can inform in the locker room our company're ready to do that and also climb on to the next game.".