.Maximum Olson, ESPN Team WriterSep 28, 2024, 08:48 PM ETCloseCovers the Big 12Joined ESPN in 2012Graduate of the College of NebraskaLAS LAS VEGA-- UNLV made a claim Sunday in its initial activity without past starting quarterback Matthew Sluka: The Rebels are heading to be merely fine.Rolling to a dominant 59-14 get Fresno State and also transferring to 4-0, UNLV verified it'll be a competitor in the Mountain range West race irrespective of its quarterback change.Hajj-Malik Williams tossed for 182 lawns, rushed for 119 backyards and accounted for 4 complete goals in his 1st begin for the Rebels after Sluka chose to leave the system on Wednesday over an issue regarding his NIL payment." It was service as usual," UNLV trainer Barry Odom pointed out. "Our experts've obtained an extremely fully grown crew. ... Our gamers, our company have actually obtained powerful leadership. They understand the purpose that we perform as well as they acquired it performed." Williams, a sixth-year senior as well as FCS transfer from Campbell, signed up with the Rebels in January as well as shed a near competitors along with Sluka in autumn camp. The 24-year-old quarterback played in 41 video games at Campbell, leaving behind as the system's occupation leader in passing yards and also touchdowns, and also was ready for his option." I presumed he worked, I believed he was actually effective," Odom claimed. "I thought the offending line did an enormous task protecting him. I thought the receivers managed terrific paths. I presumed the distance runners managed hard. Our company participated in properly as an outburst." UNLV wide receiver Ricky White III led the Rebels with a season-high 10 catches for 127 gardens as well as 2 touchdowns as well as pointed out the quarterback modification was actually "definitely suitable for our team."" He is actually only a great quarterback that us, as an outburst, our team may rally behind and just go by his rate," White said.After beginning 3 games for UNLV, Sluka decided to redshirt and also is actually anticipated to get in the transfer portal in December. Sluka's father as well as representative have declared he was actually vocally vowed $100,000 by UNLV outrageous planner Brennan Marion in the course of his employment but got simply $3,000 from the college's NIL collective. UNLV claimed in a claim that Sluka's agents created monetary requirements for him to maintain playing that it interpreted as "a transgression of NCAA pay-for-play rules, as well as Nevada condition regulation." Publisher's Picks2 RelatedOdom gone through from a prepared claim during his postgame news conference as well as carried out not take inquiries pertaining to Sluka. He pointed out UNLV abided by suitable guidelines and also is dedicated to the progression as well as results of every player in the course." Several have conveyed very strong point of views about the celebrations of recently without total knowledge of the facts, without complete knowledge of the events of last week and also without total expertise of the regulation in the ever-changing, growing NIL system," Odom mentioned. "As well as unfortunately, some have actually also used this situation as a platform for their personal programs. I respect every person's right to an opinion, and I will not talk about others' opinions or even their motivations for sharing all of them." White additionally had a message for Circa Sports CEO Derek Stevens after the Las vega casino conveyed rate of interest in offering $100,000 to maintain Sluka on the team, telling the Las Vegas Review-Journal that doing so would be worth it "to always keep the Rebels' playoff really hopes to life."" I would talk to that someone communicate to the Circa CEO and also inquire him, with that $100,000 that he would like to contribute, give it to our O-line please," White said.The Rebels snapped a six-game losing streak versus Fresno State as well as obtained the plan's first 4-0 start since 1976 with a tough day in each 3 periods of the video game. Their protection created 4 interceptions as well as 4 sacks while enabling only 30 rushing gardens, and also their unique teams provided a blocked punting that White returned for a goal in the 1st one-fourth plus a 90-yard kickoff yield touchdown by Jai'Den Thomas in the 4th quarter.The triumph keeps UNLV in the competition for the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff and also ends a disorderly full week for a sports division that was actually at the same time coping with the most recent round of conference realignment in university athletics.UNLV officially determined to remain in the Mountain range West on Thursday, declining a move to the Pac-12 following that organization's enhancement of Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno Condition, San Diego Condition and also Utah State for 2026. The 7 staying institutions in the Mountain range West accepted a give of legal rights that will tie all of them to the event via 2031-32. After already defeating Huge 12 participants Houston and Kansas in nonconference play, UNLV gets one more opportunity to remove an Energy 4 enemy and also boost its own CFP ru00e9sumu00e9 when it throws 3-1 Syracuse on Friday." Our guys will certainly turn the page truly rapidly," Odom pointed out. "I could inform in the storage locker room our team prepare to accomplish that as well as get on to the upcoming game.".