.Max Olson, ESPN Staff WriterSep 28, 2024, 08:48 PM ETCloseCovers the Big 12Joined ESPN in 2012Graduate of the College of NebraskaLAS LAS VEGA-- UNLV brought in a declaration Sunday in its own first activity without past starting quarterback Matthew Sluka: The Rebels are actually going to be only fine.Rolling to a prevalent 59-14 win over Fresno State as well as transferring to 4-0, UNLV confirmed it'll be a contender in the Mountain West race irrespective of its quarterback change.Hajj-Malik Williams tossed for 182 lawns, hurried for 119 backyards and accounted for 4 total goals in his first begin for the Rebels after Sluka opted to leave the course on Wednesday over a conflict about his NIL remuneration." It was actually service customarily," UNLV instructor Barry Odom said. "Our experts have actually acquired a very fully grown crew. ... Our players, our company've got sturdy leadership. They know the objective that our company perform and also they obtained it carried out." Williams, a sixth-year elderly as well as FCS transfer from Campbell, participated in the Rebels in January and also dropped a close competitors with Sluka in loss camp. The 24-year-old quarterback played in 41 activities at Campbell, leaving as the course's occupation forerunner in passing gardens and also touchdowns, as well as was ready for his option." I assumed he was effective, I believed he was actually efficient," Odom mentioned. "I thought the annoying line carried out an enormous task guarding him. I thought the recipients managed terrific routes. I believed the joggers ran hard. Our team participated in effectively as an offense." UNLV pass receiver Ricky White III led the Rebels with a season-high 10 catches for 127 gardens and also pair of goals and also pointed out the quarterback adjustment was "undoubtedly great for our company."" He is actually just a terrific quarterback that us, as an outburst, we can rally at the rear of as well as merely go by his speed," White said.After beginning 3 games for UNLV, Sluka opted to redshirt as well as is counted on to enter into the transactions portal in December. Sluka's father as well as agent have alleged he was actually verbally guaranteed $100,000 through UNLV repulsive planner Brennan Marion in the course of his employment however acquired merely $3,000 from the college's NIL cumulative. UNLV said in a claim that Sluka's reps created economic requirements for him to always keep participating in that it interpreted as "an infraction of NCAA pay-for-play guidelines, as well as Nevada condition regulation." Publisher's Picks2 RelatedOdom read coming from a ready claim in the course of his postgame news conference and performed certainly not take inquiries regarding Sluka. He pointed out UNLV followed appropriate regulations and is devoted to the development and success of every gamer in the system." Several have revealed really tough point of views about the activities of recently without complete know-how of the simple facts, without full knowledge of the celebrations of recently and also without complete know-how of the rules in the ever-changing, progressing NIL body," Odom claimed. "And also regrettably, some have actually also utilized this instance as a system for their very own programs. I respect every person's right to a viewpoint, as well as I will not discuss others' opinions or even their motivations for expressing them." White additionally possessed a message for Circa Athletics Chief Executive Officer Derek Stevens after the Las vega online casino expressed interest in delivering $100,000 to maintain Sluka on the crew, telling the Las Vegas Review-Journal that doing this would cost it "to maintain the Rebels' playoff wishes to life."" I would ask that somebody connect to the Circa CEO as well as ask him, keeping that $100,000 that he desired to contribute, inflict 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 initial 4-0 begin because 1976 along with a solid day with all three periods of the game. Their self defense produced 4 interceptions and also four sacks while making it possible for merely 30 rushing lawns, and their special staffs delivered a blocked out punting that White came back for a goal in the initial one-fourth plus a 90-yard first gain touchdown by Jai'Den Thomas in the 4th quarter.The victory maintains UNLV in the competition for the grown 12-team University Football Playoff and concludes a turbulent full week for a sports department that was actually at the same time handling the most up to date sphere of conference adjustment in university athletics.UNLV officially determined to remain in the Mountain West on Thursday, turning down a move to the Pac-12 following that game's addition of Boise State, Colorado Condition, Fresno State, San Diego State and also Utah Condition for 2026. The 7 remaining colleges in the Hill West accepted to a give of civil rights that will certainly tie all of them to the conference via 2031-32. After already beating Significant 12 participants Houston and also Kansas in nonconference play, UNLV obtains one more option to remove an Electrical power 4 opponent as well as strengthen its own CFP ru00e9sumu00e9 when it throws 3-1 Syracuse on Friday." Our fellas will definitely flip the page truly swiftly," Odom claimed. "I might inform in the storage locker space our experts're ready to accomplish that and get on to the upcoming video game.".