.Maximum Olson, ESPN Personnel WriterSep 28, 2024, 08:48 PM ETCloseCovers the Major 12Joined ESPN in 2012Graduate of the University of NebraskaLAS LAS VEGA-- UNLV brought in a statement Sunday in its own very first video game without former starting quarterback Matthew Sluka: The Rebels are going to be simply fine.Rolling to a prevalent 59-14 gain Fresno Condition and also transferring to 4-0, UNLV confirmed it'll be actually a challenger in the Mountain West competition regardless of its quarterback change.Hajj-Malik Williams threw for 182 yards, hurried for 119 lawns and also represented four complete goals in his initial start for the Rebels after Sluka opted to leave the program on Wednesday over a dispute regarding his NIL remuneration." It was actually business customarily," UNLV coach Barry Odom mentioned. "Our experts've acquired an incredibly mature team. ... Our gamers, we've got strong management. They comprehend the purpose that our team perform and they obtained it performed." Williams, a sixth-year senior and FCS move coming from Campbell, signed up with the Rebels in January and lost a near competition along with Sluka in fall camp. The 24-year-old quarterback played in 41 activities at Campbell, leaving behind as the course's career innovator in passing lawns and also goals, and also awaited his chance." I thought he worked, I presumed he was reliable," Odom pointed out. "I assumed the objectionable line did an incredible job defending him. I thought the receivers managed great paths. I presumed the runners operated hard. Our team participated in effectively as an outburst." UNLV pass receiver Ricky White III led the Rebels along with a season-high 10 drawbacks for 127 gardens and two touchdowns as well as said the quarterback modification was actually "most definitely good for our team."" He's simply a great quarterback that our team, as an offense, our team can rally at the rear of and just pass his pace," White said.After beginning three ready UNLV, Sluka decided to redshirt and also is actually anticipated to get in the transactions portal in December. Sluka's daddy as well as broker have actually alleged he was verbally assured $100,000 through UNLV annoying organizer Brennan Marion throughout his employment but got only $3,000 coming from the institution's NIL aggregate. UNLV claimed in a statement that Sluka's agents created economic demands for him to keep participating in that it interpreted as "an infraction of NCAA pay-for-play guidelines, in addition to Nevada condition legislation." Editor's Picks2 RelatedOdom checked out coming from a ready declaration during the course of his postgame press conference and performed certainly not take questions regarding Sluka. He pointed out UNLV adhered to suitable rules as well as is actually committed to the development and also effectiveness of every gamer in the course." Several have conveyed extremely tough opinions about the events of recently without total knowledge of the realities, without full understanding of the occasions of last week and also without full understanding of the rules in the ever-changing, progressing NIL body," Odom said. "As well as regrettably, some have actually also used this instance as a platform for their very own agendas. I respect everyone's right to a viewpoint, and also I will not comment on others' point of views or their motivations for showing them." White additionally possessed an information for Circa Athletics Chief Executive Officer Derek Stevens after the Vegas casino site expressed rate of interest in offering $100,000 to maintain Sluka on the staff, saying to the Sin city Review-Journal that doing so will cost it "to keep the Rebels' playoff really hopes active."" I will ask that someone reach out to the Circa chief executive officer as well as ask him, with that $100,000 that he wished to give, give it to our O-line feel free to," White said.The Rebels broke a six-game losing touch versus Fresno State and obtained the course's 1st 4-0 beginning since 1976 along with a tough day in each three stages of the video game. Their defense made 4 interceptions as well as 4 sacks while enabling simply 30 rushing yards, as well as their exclusive crews delivered an obstructed punt that White came back for a goal in the 1st one-fourth plus a 90-yard first gain touchdown through Jai'Den Thomas in the 4th quarter.The success always keeps UNLV in the competition for the broadened 12-team University Regulation football Playoff and concludes a chaotic week for a sports team that was all at once taking care of the latest round of conference adjustment in college athletics.UNLV officially made a decision to remain in the Mountain West on Thursday, declining a relocate to the Pac-12 complying with that league's addition of Boise Condition, Colorado Condition, Fresno Condition, San Diego Condition and also Utah Condition for 2026. The 7 staying universities in the Mountain West agreed to a grant of civil rights that will certainly tie them to the conference with 2031-32. After currently defeating Large 12 members Houston and Kansas in nonconference play, UNLV gets one more opportunity to take down a Power 4 opponent and also reinforce its CFP ru00e9sumu00e9 when it throws 3-1 Syracuse on Friday." Our individuals will certainly flip the page definitely quickly," Odom said. "I can inform in the closet space our team prepare to do that and jump on to the upcoming activity.".