.Max Olson, ESPN Staff WriterSep 28, 2024, 08:48 PM ETCloseCovers the Major 12Joined ESPN in 2012Graduate of the University of NebraskaLAS LAS VEGA-- UNLV created a statement Saturday in its 1st activity without former starting quarterback Matthew Sluka: The Rebels are actually mosting likely to be actually merely fine.Rolling to a dominant 59-14 draw Fresno Condition and moving to 4-0, UNLV proved it'll be actually an opponent in the Mountain West race no matter its own quarterback change.Hajj-Malik Williams threw for 182 lawns, rushed for 119 backyards and also accounted for 4 total touchdowns in his initial begin for the Rebels after Sluka opted to leave behind the plan on Wednesday over a dispute regarding his NIL payment." It was service customarily," UNLV coach Barry Odom mentioned. "Our experts have actually acquired a very fully grown crew. ... Our gamers, we've got strong management. They know the mission that our team're on and they acquired it performed." Williams, a sixth-year senior and FCS transmission coming from Campbell, signed up with the Rebels in January and dropped a near competitors with Sluka in loss camp. The 24-year-old quarterback played in 41 activities at Campbell, leaving as the program's profession forerunner in passing backyards as well as goals, and awaited his possibility." I believed he was effective, I assumed he was actually dependable," Odom claimed. "I presumed the repulsive line carried out a significant work securing him. I thought the receivers managed great courses. I assumed the distance runners operated hard. Our experts played properly as an offense." UNLV wide receiver Ricky White III led the Rebels with a season-high 10 drawbacks for 127 yards and 2 touchdowns and stated the quarterback modification was actually "absolutely great for our company."" He is actually only a wonderful quarterback that us, as an offense, our team may move at the back of and only go by his speed," White said.After starting three games for UNLV, Sluka decided to redshirt and also is expected to enter into the transmission site in December. Sluka's dad and agent have actually declared he was actually vocally vowed $100,000 by UNLV offending organizer Brennan Marion throughout his employment however got just $3,000 coming from the school's NIL collective. UNLV claimed in a statement that Sluka's representatives created economic demands for him to maintain playing that it interpreted as "an offense of NCAA pay-for-play regulations, and also Nevada condition legislation." Publisher's Picks2 RelatedOdom checked out from a well prepared statement during his postgame news conference as well as carried out not take inquiries relating to Sluka. He stated UNLV complied with appropriate guidelines and is actually devoted to the development as well as excellence of every gamer in the course." Numerous have shared really solid opinions concerning the events of recently without total expertise of the simple facts, without complete understanding of the occasions of recently as well as without complete knowledge of the rules in the ever-changing, progressing NIL device," Odom claimed. "And sadly, some have actually even utilized this instance as a platform for their very own programs. I respect every person's right to an opinion, as well as I won't discuss others' opinions or their motivations for sharing all of them." White also had a message for Circa Sports Chief Executive Officer Derek Stevens after the Vegas online casino revealed enthusiasm in delivering $100,000 to keep Sluka on the staff, telling the Sin city Review-Journal that doing so will deserve it "to maintain the Rebels' playoff wishes active."" I will ask that somebody connect to the Circa CEO and also inquire him, with that $100,000 that he desired to donate, give it to our O-line satisfy," White said.The Rebels popped a six-game losing touch versus Fresno Condition and obtained the course's very first 4-0 begin due to the fact that 1976 with a strong time in every 3 stages of the activity. Their protection created 4 interceptions and four sacks while permitting only 30 hurrying yards, and also their unique teams provided a blocked punt that White returned for a goal in the initial one-fourth plus a 90-yard kickoff return touchdown by Jai'Den Thomas in the 4th quarter.The victory keeps UNLV in the competition for the increased 12-team University Soccer Playoff and ends a turbulent week for an athletic division that was at the same time dealing with the latest around of association adjustment in university athletics.UNLV formally determined to remain in the Mountain West on Thursday, refusing a transfer to the Pac-12 complying with that league's enhancement of Boise Condition, Colorado Condition, Fresno Condition, San Diego Condition as well as Utah Condition for 2026. The seven staying schools in the Mountain West consented to a grant of legal rights that are going to bind all of them to the event via 2031-32. After currently defeating Large 12 members Houston and Kansas in nonconference play, UNLV obtains one more option to take down an Electrical power 4 opponent as well as boost its own CFP ru00e9sumu00e9 when it throws 3-1 Syracuse on Friday." Our fellas will flip the page truly promptly," Odom stated. "I could possibly tell in the storage locker room we're ready to do that as well as hop on to the next activity.".