.Max Olson, ESPN Staff WriterSep 28, 2024, 08:48 PM ETCloseCovers the Big 12Joined ESPN in 2012Graduate of the University of NebraskaLAS LAS VEGA-- UNLV created a statement 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 get Fresno State and also moving to 4-0, UNLV verified it'll be actually an opponent in the Mountain range West competition irrespective of its quarterback change.Hajj-Malik Williams tossed for 182 yards, rushed for 119 backyards and accounted for four overall touchdowns in his initial start for the Rebels after Sluka opted to leave behind the system on Wednesday over a dispute concerning his NIL payment." It was business customarily," UNLV trainer Barry Odom mentioned. "Our company have actually obtained a really fully grown group. ... Our players, our company have actually acquired tough leadership. They know the purpose that our company get on and they obtained it carried out." Williams, a sixth-year senior as well as FCS move coming from Campbell, signed up with the Rebels in January and also shed a close competition with Sluka in autumn camp. The 24-year-old quarterback played in 41 activities at Campbell, leaving behind as the system's job leader in passing gardens as well as touchdowns, and also awaited his option." I presumed he was effective, I thought he was reliable," Odom said. "I presumed the annoying line performed an incredible task guarding him. I assumed the recipients managed excellent routes. I thought the distance runners managed hard. Our team participated in well as an outburst." UNLV wide receiver Ricky White III led the Rebels along with a season-high 10 drawbacks for 127 lawns and 2 goals and also said the quarterback modification was actually "definitely good for our team."" He is actually only a fantastic quarterback that our team, as an outburst, our experts can move at the rear of and also only go by his rate," White said.After beginning 3 games for UNLV, Sluka chose to redshirt as well as is actually expected to go into the transmission portal in December. Sluka's father and broker have declared he was verbally assured $100,000 through UNLV offending coordinator Brennan Marion during his employment but obtained merely $3,000 from the school's NIL aggregate. UNLV mentioned in a declaration that Sluka's agents made monetary requirements for him to maintain participating in that it took "a transgression of NCAA pay-for-play regulations, along with Nevada condition rule." Editor's Picks2 RelatedOdom gone through from an equipped claim throughout his postgame press conference as well as carried out certainly not take concerns concerning Sluka. He stated UNLV observed suitable guidelines as well as is devoted to the advancement as well as excellence of every player in the system." Many have shown very strong viewpoints regarding the occasions of last week without full know-how of the simple facts, without complete knowledge of the events of last week as well as without full knowledge of the rules in the ever-changing, developing NIL device," Odom stated. "As well as regrettably, some have even used this scenario as a platform for their own plans. I respect everyone's right to an opinion, as well as I will not discuss others' point of views or their motivations for showing all of them." White additionally possessed a notification for Circa Athletics Chief Executive Officer Derek Stevens after the Las vega casino showed enthusiasm in delivering $100,000 to always keep Sluka on the team, telling the Sin city Review-Journal that accomplishing this will cost it "to always keep the Rebels' playoff wishes to life."" I would certainly talk to that a person connect to the Circa chief executive officer as well as inquire him, with that said $100,000 that he would like to give, inflict our O-line satisfy," White said.The Rebels broke a six-game losing touch against Fresno State as well as achieved the plan's first 4-0 start because 1976 along with a sturdy day with all 3 stages of the game. Their protection produced 4 interceptions and also 4 sacks while allowing only 30 hurrying backyards, as well as their special teams delivered a blocked out punting that White came back for a goal in the initial quarter plus a 90-yard kickoff gain touchdown by Jai'Den Thomas in the 4th quarter.The success keeps UNLV in the competition for the increased 12-team College Football Playoff and also wraps up a turbulent week for a sports division that was actually concurrently handling the latest round of association realignment in college athletics.UNLV formally determined to continue to be in the Hill West on Thursday, refusing a transfer to the Pac-12 observing that game's enhancement of Boise Condition, Colorado Condition, Fresno State, San Diego State and also Utah State for 2026. The seven remaining schools in the Mountain West agreed to a grant of legal rights that are going to tie all of them to the event through 2031-32. After presently beating Major 12 participants Houston as well as Kansas in nonconference play, UNLV obtains another option to take down a Power 4 opponent as well as enhance its own CFP ru00e9sumu00e9 when it throws 3-1 Syracuse on Friday." Our fellas will definitely flip the web page definitely rapidly," Odom said. "I can inform in the closet area our company prepare to do that and also climb on to the following video game.".