.Max Olson, ESPN Workers WriterSep 28, 2024, 08:48 PM ETCloseCovers the Huge 12Joined ESPN in 2012Graduate of the University of NebraskaLAS LAS VEGA-- UNLV created a statement Saturday in its first activity without former beginning quarterback Matthew Sluka: The Rebels are going to be only fine.Rolling to a prevalent 59-14 gain Fresno State as well as moving to 4-0, UNLV verified it'll be actually a contender in the Hill West competition regardless of its quarterback change.Hajj-Malik Williams tossed for 182 backyards, hurried for 119 backyards and also represented four total goals in his initial start for the Rebels after Sluka chose to leave behind the plan on Wednesday over a disagreement regarding his NIL payment." It was organization customarily," UNLV train Barry Odom stated. "Our experts have actually received an incredibly fully grown crew. ... Our players, our experts've got tough management. They comprehend the mission that our experts're on as well as they acquired it carried out." Williams, a sixth-year elderly as well as FCS move from Campbell, signed up with the Rebels in January and lost a near competition along with Sluka in autumn camping ground. The 24-year-old quarterback played in 41 activities at Campbell, leaving as the program's job forerunner in passing backyards and also touchdowns, and also awaited his option." I believed he worked, I believed he was actually efficient," Odom stated. "I assumed the repulsive line performed a tremendous project guarding him. I assumed the receivers operated wonderful paths. I assumed the distance runners managed hard. Our company played well as an outburst." UNLV wide receiver Ricky White III led the Rebels with a season-high 10 catches for 127 lawns as well as 2 touchdowns and also said the quarterback modification was "certainly suitable for our company."" He is actually just a fantastic quarterback that us, as an outburst, our team may rally behind and only go by his rate," White said.After starting 3 games for UNLV, Sluka decided to redshirt and also is actually anticipated to go into the move gateway in December. Sluka's papa as well as broker have actually affirmed he was vocally assured $100,000 by UNLV objectionable coordinator Brennan Marion in the course of his recruitment but got only $3,000 coming from the institution's NIL collective. UNLV claimed in a claim that Sluka's representatives created financial demands for him to always keep playing that it interpreted as "an infraction of NCAA pay-for-play regulations, and also Nevada state legislation." Editor's Picks2 RelatedOdom checked out coming from an equipped statement during the course of his postgame news conference and did certainly not take questions relating to Sluka. He claimed UNLV observed applicable guidelines as well as is actually devoted to the progression and effectiveness of every player in the course." Numerous have shown quite sturdy opinions concerning the activities of recently without total knowledge of the realities, without full knowledge of the events of last week and without full knowledge of the rules in the ever-changing, developing NIL unit," Odom claimed. "As well as regrettably, some have actually even utilized this instance as a platform for their own agendas. I value everyone's right to an opinion, and also I will not discuss others' opinions or even their inspirations for revealing all of them." White likewise possessed a message for Circa Athletics CEO Derek Stevens after the Vegas casino shared passion in providing $100,000 to maintain Sluka on the staff, informing the Las Vegas Review-Journal that accomplishing this would certainly deserve it "to maintain the Rebels' playoff wishes to life."" I would inquire that someone connect to the Circa chief executive officer as well as ask him, with that $100,000 that he intended to give away, inflict our O-line feel free to," White said.The Rebels popped a six-game losing touch versus Fresno Condition as well as attained the program's first 4-0 begin because 1976 with a sturdy time in all three phases of the video game. Their self defense created four interceptions as well as 4 sacks while allowing merely 30 hurrying yards, as well as their special teams provided a shut out punting that White returned for a goal in the initial fourth plus a 90-yard kickoff yield touchdown through Jai'Den Thomas in the fourth quarter.The success always keeps UNLV in the competition for the expanded 12-team University Soccer Playoff as well as ends a disorderly week for an athletic team that was concurrently managing the latest round of event realignment in university athletics.UNLV formally made a decision to stay in the Hill West on Thursday, declining a move to the Pac-12 adhering to that league's enhancement of Boise Condition, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego Condition and also Utah Condition for 2026. The 7 remaining schools in the Mountain range West consented to a give of rights that will certainly tie all of them to the association with 2031-32. After presently beating Big 12 participants Houston and also Kansas in nonconference play, UNLV gets one more chance to remove an Electrical power 4 rival as well as strengthen its own CFP ru00e9sumu00e9 when it throws 3-1 Syracuse on Friday." Our guys will certainly turn the page really quickly," Odom claimed. "I could possibly inform in the storage locker area our experts prepare to do that and jump on to the next video game.".