.Max Olson, ESPN Team WriterSep 28, 2024, 08:48 PM ETCloseCovers the Major 12Joined ESPN in 2012Graduate of the University of NebraskaLAS LAS VEGA-- UNLV created a statement Sunday in its 1st video game without former starting quarterback Matthew Sluka: The Rebels are actually heading to be actually simply fine.Rolling to a leading 59-14 sway Fresno State as well as relocating to 4-0, UNLV confirmed it'll be an opponent in the Mountain West race irrespective of its quarterback change.Hajj-Malik Williams threw for 182 lawns, rushed for 119 backyards and also made up four overall touchdowns in his very first begin for the Rebels after Sluka decided to leave behind the program on Wednesday over a dispute regarding his NIL settlement." It was actually company customarily," UNLV instructor Barry Odom said. "Our company have actually received an incredibly fully grown staff. ... Our players, our company've received strong management. They know the objective that we get on and they acquired it done." Williams, a sixth-year elderly and also FCS move from Campbell, joined the Rebels in January and shed a close competitors along with Sluka in fall camping ground. The 24-year-old quarterback played in 41 activities at Campbell, leaving as the plan's career leader in passing lawns as well as goals, as well as awaited his option." I thought he was effective, I assumed he was dependable," Odom claimed. "I thought the repulsive line performed a significant task securing him. I presumed the recipients managed fantastic courses. I thought the distance runners operated hard. Our company participated in properly as an offense." UNLV pass receiver Ricky White III led the Rebels along with a season-high 10 drawbacks for 127 backyards and also 2 goals and pointed out the quarterback adjustment was actually "most definitely great for our company."" He's merely a wonderful quarterback that our company, as an offense, our company can move at the rear of and just pass his rate," White said.After starting 3 games for UNLV, Sluka decided to redshirt and is expected to get into the move site in December. Sluka's dad and broker have actually affirmed he was vocally vowed $100,000 through UNLV repulsive organizer Brennan Marion throughout his employment but acquired merely $3,000 coming from the college's NIL collective. UNLV mentioned in a declaration that Sluka's representatives created financial demands for him to maintain playing that it took "a violation of NCAA pay-for-play rules, along with Nevada state legislation." Publisher's Picks2 RelatedOdom checked out from a ready claim during the course of his postgame news conference and also carried out certainly not take inquiries regarding Sluka. He claimed UNLV adhered to suitable regulations and also is committed to the growth and also results of every gamer in the program." Many have expressed quite tough viewpoints regarding the celebrations of recently without total know-how of the realities, without full knowledge of the celebrations of recently and also without total knowledge of the rules in the ever-changing, advancing NIL device," Odom said. "And also sadly, some have actually also utilized this circumstance as a platform for their own schedules. I appreciate everyone's right to an opinion, and I won't comment on others' viewpoints or their motivations for sharing all of them." White likewise had an information for Circa Sports CEO Derek Stevens after the Las vega gambling establishment showed enthusiasm in using $100,000 to keep Sluka on the team, saying to the Las Vegas Review-Journal that doing so will be worth it "to maintain the Rebels' playoff really hopes to life."" I would inquire that a person communicate to the Circa chief executive officer and also inquire him, with that said $100,000 that he wished to donate, inflict our O-line satisfy," White said.The Rebels popped a six-game losing touch against Fresno State as well as obtained the program's initial 4-0 begin considering that 1976 with a tough time with all 3 periods of the game. Their self defense produced four interceptions as well as 4 sacks while permitting merely 30 hurrying backyards, as well as their unique teams delivered a blocked punting that White returned for a touchdown in the first one-fourth plus a 90-yard kickoff gain touchdown through Jai'Den Thomas in the 4th quarter.The success maintains UNLV in the race for the broadened 12-team University Regulation football Playoff and also ends a disorderly full week for an athletic division that was simultaneously taking care of the most up to date sphere of association adjustment in college athletics.UNLV formally chose to remain in the Mountain West on Thursday, declining a transfer to the Pac-12 following that league's add-on of Boise State, Colorado Condition, Fresno Condition, San Diego Condition and Utah Condition for 2026. The seven remaining schools in the Mountain range West consented to a grant of civil liberties that will bind all of them to the event by means of 2031-32. After presently defeating Large 12 members Houston as well as Kansas in nonconference play, UNLV gets another opportunity to remove an Electrical power 4 rival and also strengthen its CFP ru00e9sumu00e9 when it organizes 3-1 Syracuse on Friday." Our people will turn the page truly swiftly," Odom said. "I could inform in the locker room we prepare to carry out that and also climb on to the next game.".