.Max Olson, ESPN Team WriterSep 28, 2024, 08:48 PM ETCloseCovers the Huge 12Joined ESPN in 2012Graduate of the College of NebraskaLAS LAS VEGA-- UNLV created a statement Sunday in its own initial game without past starting quarterback Matthew Sluka: The Rebels are actually visiting be actually only fine.Rolling to a prevalent 59-14 get Fresno Condition and also transferring to 4-0, UNLV showed it'll be actually a challenger in the Mountain West competition no matter its own quarterback change.Hajj-Malik Williams tossed for 182 backyards, rushed for 119 backyards and represented four complete goals in his initial beginning for the Rebels after Sluka opted to leave behind the course on Wednesday over a dispute about his NIL remuneration." It was business customarily," UNLV instructor Barry Odom pointed out. "Our team've acquired a really fully grown team. ... Our players, our experts've obtained strong management. They know the goal that our company perform and also they received it performed." Williams, a sixth-year elderly and FCS move coming from Campbell, signed up with the Rebels in January and also dropped a close competition along with Sluka in loss camp. The 24-year-old quarterback played in 41 video games at Campbell, leaving as the system's job innovator in passing backyards and goals, and also was ready for his possibility." I presumed he was effective, I presumed he was actually effective," Odom stated. "I thought the annoying line carried out an enormous job securing him. I assumed the receivers managed wonderful courses. I believed the distance runners ran hard. Our experts played properly as an offense." UNLV wide receiver Ricky White III led the Rebels with a season-high 10 catches for 127 gardens and also 2 touchdowns and stated the quarterback change was actually "most definitely great for our team."" He's simply an excellent quarterback that our company, as an outburst, we can rally at the rear of as well as simply pass his speed," White said.After beginning 3 ready UNLV, Sluka decided to redshirt as well as is expected to get in the move site in December. Sluka's papa as well as representative have actually declared he was actually verbally promised $100,000 by UNLV outrageous organizer Brennan Marion during the course of his employment but obtained just $3,000 from the university's NIL cumulative. UNLV said in a declaration that Sluka's representatives made economic requirements for him to keep playing that it took "a transgression of NCAA pay-for-play guidelines, and also Nevada condition law." Editor's Picks2 RelatedOdom reviewed from a well prepared statement during his postgame news conference and carried out not take inquiries concerning Sluka. He pointed out UNLV abided by suitable regulations and also is actually committed to the progression as well as results of every player in the program." Numerous have actually expressed really strong opinions regarding the occasions of recently without complete knowledge of the facts, without complete knowledge of the celebrations of last week and also without total understanding of the regulation in the ever-changing, advancing NIL device," Odom mentioned. "As well as regrettably, some have actually also used this situation as a system for their very own programs. I recognize everybody's right to an opinion, as well as I will not discuss others' point of views or even their motivations for revealing all of them." White also possessed a message for Circa Sports CEO Derek Stevens after the Vegas gambling enterprise conveyed rate of interest in using $100,000 to keep Sluka on the team, telling the Las Vegas Review-Journal that doing so will be worth it "to keep the Rebels' playoff wishes active."" I will talk to that a person communicate to the Circa chief executive officer as well as ask him, with that $100,000 that he desired to give away, give it to our O-line please," White said.The Rebels snapped a six-game losing touch against Fresno State and also achieved the plan's 1st 4-0 begin considering that 1976 along with a powerful day in all 3 periods of the video game. Their defense created four interceptions and four sacks while permitting just 30 rushing yards, as well as their unique crews delivered a shut out punt that White came back for a goal in the initial one-fourth plus a 90-yard first profit goal through Jai'Den Thomas in the 4th quarter.The triumph always keeps UNLV in the competition for the grown 12-team University Football Playoff and wraps up a chaotic week for an athletic team that was actually concurrently taking care of the most up to date around of conference realignment in college athletics.UNLV officially made a decision to stay in the Hill West on Thursday, turning down a transfer to the Pac-12 complying with that league's enhancement of Boise Condition, Colorado Condition, Fresno State, San Diego Condition and Utah State for 2026. The seven staying schools in the Mountain range West accepted a grant of civil rights that will definitely bind all of them to the conference via 2031-32. After actually beating Significant 12 participants Houston and Kansas in nonconference play, UNLV gets another chance to remove a Power 4 opponent as well as boost its CFP ru00e9sumu00e9 when it throws 3-1 Syracuse on Friday." Our individuals will certainly turn the page definitely rapidly," Odom said. "I could possibly tell in the storage locker area our experts're ready to perform that and also climb on to the next video game.".