.Maximum Olson, ESPN Workers WriterSep 28, 2024, 08:48 PM ETCloseCovers the Big 12Joined ESPN in 2012Graduate of the University of NebraskaLAS VEGAS-- UNLV brought in a claim Sunday in its own very first video game without former starting quarterback Matthew Sluka: The Rebels are actually visiting be actually only fine.Rolling to a dominant 59-14 sway Fresno Condition and also transferring to 4-0, UNLV confirmed it'll be a contender in the Mountain range West race despite its own quarterback change.Hajj-Malik Williams tossed for 182 lawns, hurried for 119 backyards as well as accounted for four complete goals in his initial begin for the Rebels after Sluka opted to leave behind the course on Wednesday over a dispute concerning his NIL settlement." It was company customarily," UNLV instructor Barry Odom stated. "Our company have actually received a really fully grown crew. ... Our players, our company've acquired solid management. They comprehend the goal that our experts're on as well as they got it done." Williams, a sixth-year elderly and also FCS transfer from Campbell, signed up with the Rebels in January as well as dropped a close competition with Sluka in fall camp. The 24-year-old quarterback played in 41 games at Campbell, leaving behind as the course's profession innovator in passing lawns and also goals, and also was ready for his possibility." I thought he worked, I assumed he was actually reliable," Odom stated. "I presumed the offensive line performed an enormous task shielding him. I thought the receivers ran fantastic courses. I presumed the runners managed hard. Our team participated in properly as an outburst." UNLV pass receiver Ricky White III led the Rebels along with a season-high 10 catches for 127 yards as well as two goals and claimed the quarterback improvement was actually "certainly helpful for our team."" He is actually merely a great quarterback that our company, as an offense, we may rally at the rear of and also just pass his rate," White said.After beginning three ready UNLV, Sluka opted to redshirt and is actually anticipated to enter the transactions portal in December. Sluka's daddy and agent have actually affirmed he was actually verbally guaranteed $100,000 by UNLV outrageous planner Brennan Marion in the course of his recruitment however received only $3,000 from the university's NIL collective. UNLV pointed out in a claim that Sluka's reps created economic requirements for him to maintain playing that it interpreted as "a violation of NCAA pay-for-play guidelines, and also Nevada condition law." Editor's Picks2 RelatedOdom read coming from a well prepared statement throughout his postgame news conference as well as did not take questions relating to Sluka. He pointed out UNLV followed applicable regulations and is committed to the growth as well as results of every gamer in the program." A lot of have actually revealed very sturdy point of views concerning the events of recently without complete expertise of the facts, without full know-how of the events of last week and also without full expertise of the rules in the ever-changing, developing NIL device," Odom mentioned. "As well as regrettably, some have also used this scenario as a system for their own programs. I appreciate everyone's right to a point of view, and also I will not talk about others' viewpoints or even their motivations for sharing all of them." White also possessed a notification for Circa Sports Chief Executive Officer Derek Stevens after the Las vega gambling enterprise shared interest in delivering $100,000 to keep Sluka on the staff, saying to the Sin city Review-Journal that doing this will cost it "to always keep the Rebels' playoff really hopes to life."" I would certainly talk to that somebody connect to the Circa chief executive officer and also inquire him, with that $100,000 that he desired to contribute, give it to our O-line satisfy," White said.The Rebels broke a six-game losing touch against Fresno Condition and attained the system's first 4-0 beginning since 1976 along with a strong time in all 3 periods of the game. Their self defense generated 4 interceptions and 4 sacks while making it possible for just 30 rushing gardens, and their exclusive staffs supplied an obstructed punt that White returned for a touchdown in the 1st fourth plus a 90-yard first profit touchdown through Jai'Den Thomas in the 4th quarter.The victory maintains UNLV in the race for the grown 12-team University Soccer Playoff as well as ends a turbulent full week for a sports division that was at the same time handling the most up to date around of conference realignment in college athletics.UNLV formally chose to stay in the Hill West on Thursday, declining a transfer to the Pac-12 complying with that game's add-on of Boise Condition, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State and also Utah Condition for 2026. The seven staying schools in the Mountain West agreed to a give of civil liberties that will certainly tie them to the event through 2031-32. After actually defeating Large 12 members Houston and Kansas in nonconference play, UNLV receives another opportunity to remove an Energy 4 challenger and strengthen its own CFP ru00e9sumu00e9 when it holds 3-1 Syracuse on Friday." Our fellas will definitely flip the page definitely quickly," Odom stated. "I could possibly tell in the locker area our company're ready to accomplish that as well as jump on to the upcoming game.".