.Max Olson, ESPN Team WriterSep 28, 2024, 08:48 PM ETCloseCovers the Major 12Joined ESPN in 2012Graduate of the College of NebraskaLAS VEGAS-- UNLV created a statement Sunday in its own very first activity without former beginning quarterback Matthew Sluka: The Rebels are visiting be actually simply fine.Rolling to a prevalent 59-14 draw Fresno Condition and moving to 4-0, UNLV verified it'll be an opponent in the Mountain West race despite its own quarterback change.Hajj-Malik Williams tossed for 182 yards, hurried for 119 lawns and accounted for 4 total goals in his initial start for the Rebels after Sluka decided to leave behind the course on Wednesday over a disagreement about his NIL settlement." It was actually organization as usual," UNLV train Barry Odom stated. "Our experts've got an extremely fully grown crew. ... Our players, our team've got sturdy management. They understand the mission that our experts get on as well as they acquired it carried out." Williams, a sixth-year senior and FCS transfer from Campbell, participated in the Rebels in January and shed a near competition along with Sluka in loss camp. The 24-year-old quarterback played in 41 games at Campbell, leaving as the program's profession leader in passing gardens as well as touchdowns, as well as awaited his chance." I thought he worked, I presumed he was efficient," Odom stated. "I thought the objectionable line did a tremendous job safeguarding him. I presumed the receivers managed wonderful routes. I presumed the distance runners managed hard. We played effectively as an offense." UNLV wide receiver Ricky White III led the Rebels along with a season-high 10 catches for 127 yards as well as pair of goals and also stated the quarterback modification was actually "undoubtedly helpful for our team."" He's simply an excellent quarterback that us, as an offense, our experts may move at the rear of and also only pass his pace," White said.After starting 3 games for UNLV, Sluka opted to redshirt and also is anticipated to get into the transfer site in December. Sluka's daddy and agent have affirmed he was actually verbally guaranteed $100,000 through UNLV repulsive organizer Brennan Marion in the course of his recruitment yet obtained just $3,000 coming from the school's NIL collective. UNLV claimed in a declaration that Sluka's reps made financial needs for him to always keep participating in that it interpreted as "an offense of NCAA pay-for-play policies, as well as Nevada state rule." Editor's Picks2 RelatedOdom gone through coming from an equipped statement in the course of his postgame press conference as well as did certainly not take concerns concerning Sluka. He stated UNLV complied with applicable rules and is actually devoted to the growth and results of every player in the course." Several have shown quite tough viewpoints concerning the activities of last week without complete understanding of the simple facts, without total understanding of the events of last week and also without total know-how of the regulation in the ever-changing, developing NIL unit," Odom pointed out. "As well as regrettably, some have actually even used this instance as a platform for their own programs. I respect every person's right to a point of view, and also I will not talk about others' viewpoints or their incentives for conveying them." White likewise had a message for Circa Sports CEO Derek Stevens after the Las vega gambling establishment revealed interest in supplying $100,000 to maintain Sluka on the crew, saying to the Las Vegas Review-Journal that accomplishing this would cost it "to keep the Rebels' playoff hopes to life."" I would certainly talk to that a person reach out to the Circa chief executive officer as well as ask him, keeping that $100,000 that he would like to donate, give it to our O-line feel free to," White said.The Rebels snapped a six-game losing streak against Fresno Condition and also accomplished the system's initial 4-0 start given that 1976 along with a sturdy time in every 3 stages of the activity. Their protection produced four interceptions as well as four sacks while enabling just 30 rushing backyards, and their unique teams provided a blocked punting that White returned for a goal in the first fourth plus a 90-yard first profit touchdown by Jai'Den Thomas in the fourth quarter.The victory always keeps UNLV in the race for the extended 12-team College Soccer Playoff and wraps up a disorderly week for an athletic team that was all at once coping with the most recent sphere of association realignment in university athletics.UNLV formally decided to stay in the Hill West on Thursday, refusing a move to the Pac-12 observing that organization's add-on of Boise State, Colorado Condition, Fresno State, San Diego Condition as well as Utah Condition for 2026. The 7 continuing to be universities in the Mountain range West accepted to a give of civil rights that will certainly tie all of them to the event via 2031-32. After currently defeating Major 12 participants Houston and also Kansas in nonconference play, UNLV acquires another opportunity to remove an Energy 4 enemy and boost its CFP ru00e9sumu00e9 when it organizes 3-1 Syracuse on Friday." Our people will definitely flip the webpage actually quickly," Odom claimed. "I could possibly tell in the storage locker space our company're ready to accomplish that as well as get on to the next video game.".