.Max Olson, ESPN Staff WriterSep 28, 2024, 08:48 PM ETCloseCovers the Large 12Joined ESPN in 2012Graduate of the University of NebraskaLAS LAS VEGA-- UNLV brought in a declaration Sunday in its own first game without past starting quarterback Matthew Sluka: The Rebels are visiting be just fine.Rolling to a leading 59-14 win over Fresno Condition and moving to 4-0, UNLV verified it'll be actually a competitor in the Mountain West competition despite its own quarterback change.Hajj-Malik Williams tossed for 182 gardens, hurried for 119 backyards and represented 4 complete goals in his very first beginning for the Rebels after Sluka decided to leave behind the plan on Wednesday over a conflict regarding his NIL compensation." It was actually service as usual," UNLV coach Barry Odom pointed out. "Our company have actually obtained a really fully grown group. ... Our players, our experts've received powerful management. They know the mission that we're on and also they acquired it performed." Williams, a sixth-year senior and also FCS move coming from Campbell, joined the Rebels in January and dropped a near competition along with Sluka in fall camping ground. The 24-year-old quarterback played in 41 games at Campbell, leaving as the course's job forerunner in passing gardens as well as touchdowns, and was ready for his option." I assumed he worked, I presumed he was actually reliable," Odom said. "I thought the objectionable line carried out a significant task securing him. I presumed the recipients operated wonderful routes. I presumed the runners managed hard. Our team participated in properly as an offense." UNLV wide receiver Ricky White III led the Rebels with a season-high 10 drawbacks for 127 yards and also pair of goals and mentioned the quarterback adjustment was "most definitely good for us."" He is actually merely an excellent quarterback that our company, as an offense, our company can move at the back of and just pass his pace," White said.After starting 3 games for UNLV, Sluka opted to redshirt as well as is actually expected to go into the transfer gateway in December. Sluka's papa and also representative have actually affirmed he was vocally promised $100,000 by UNLV outrageous planner Brennan Marion in the course of his recruitment yet got just $3,000 coming from the college's NIL collective. UNLV claimed in a declaration that Sluka's agents created monetary needs for him to maintain playing that it interpreted as "a violation of NCAA pay-for-play policies, and also Nevada condition legislation." Editor's Picks2 RelatedOdom read through coming from a ready claim throughout his postgame news conference and performed certainly not take questions regarding Sluka. He stated UNLV complied with applicable policies and also is committed to the progression as well as success of every gamer in the plan." Several have actually expressed quite sturdy point of views regarding the occasions of recently without full expertise of the simple facts, without full expertise of the occasions of recently and also without total expertise of the regulation in the ever-changing, evolving NIL system," Odom mentioned. "And regrettably, some have also used this scenario as a platform for their very own agendas. I appreciate every person's right to an opinion, and also I won't comment on others' viewpoints or even their incentives for sharing all of them." White additionally had an information for Circa Athletics CEO Derek Stevens after the Vegas online casino showed rate of interest in providing $100,000 to always keep Sluka on the group, telling the Sin city Review-Journal that accomplishing this would certainly cost it "to maintain the Rebels' playoff wishes to life."" I would ask that somebody reach out to the Circa CEO and ask him, keeping that $100,000 that he would like to donate, inflict our O-line feel free to," White said.The Rebels broke a six-game losing streak versus Fresno Condition and also achieved the system's initial 4-0 start considering that 1976 along with a sturdy day in all 3 stages of the game. Their protection produced four interceptions and also 4 sacks while enabling simply 30 hurrying lawns, as well as their exclusive crews supplied a blocked out punting that White returned for a touchdown in the initial one-fourth plus a 90-yard kickoff yield touchdown through Jai'Den Thomas in the 4th quarter.The triumph keeps UNLV in the race for the expanded 12-team University Regulation football Playoff and also concludes a disorderly week for an athletic team that was concurrently taking care of the most recent around of event realignment in college athletics.UNLV formally made a decision to remain in the Hill West on Thursday, disapproving a relocate to the Pac-12 observing that league's enhancement of Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno Condition, San Diego State and Utah Condition for 2026. The seven continuing to be schools in the Mountain range West consented to a grant of civil liberties that will tie them to the event by means of 2031-32. After already beating Huge 12 participants Houston and also Kansas in nonconference play, UNLV acquires one more possibility to remove an Electrical power 4 enemy and also enhance its own CFP ru00e9sumu00e9 when it holds 3-1 Syracuse on Friday." Our men are going to turn the webpage really promptly," Odom mentioned. "I could possibly inform in the storage locker area our experts prepare to carry out that and jump on to the upcoming activity.".