.Maximum 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 Saturday in its own initial activity without previous beginning quarterback Matthew Sluka: The Rebels are actually heading to be merely fine.Rolling to a dominant 59-14 win over Fresno State and moving to 4-0, UNLV verified it'll be actually an opponent in the Mountain range West competition despite its own quarterback change.Hajj-Malik Williams threw for 182 lawns, hurried for 119 gardens and also represented 4 total goals in his 1st beginning for the Rebels after Sluka decided to leave behind the course on Wednesday over a dispute about his NIL compensation." It was organization as usual," UNLV trainer Barry Odom stated. "We have actually got a quite mature crew. ... Our gamers, our team've obtained powerful leadership. They understand the purpose that our company get on and they got it carried out." Williams, a sixth-year elderly as well as FCS transfer from Campbell, joined the Rebels in January and shed a close competition with Sluka in fall camping ground. The 24-year-old quarterback played in 41 activities at Campbell, leaving behind as the system's job leader in passing lawns and also goals, and also awaited his chance." I assumed he was effective, I presumed he was efficient," Odom said. "I thought the outrageous line did a remarkable job protecting him. I assumed the recipients operated excellent paths. I assumed the joggers ran hard. Our experts participated in effectively as an outburst." UNLV pass receiver Ricky White III led the Rebels with a season-high 10 drawbacks for 127 lawns and also two touchdowns and also mentioned the quarterback improvement was "undoubtedly good for our team."" He's merely a wonderful quarterback that our company, as an outburst, we may move at the rear of and also merely go by his pace," White said.After beginning three games for UNLV, Sluka chose to redshirt as well as is expected to enter the transactions website in December. Sluka's dad and broker have actually affirmed he was vocally promised $100,000 by UNLV offending organizer Brennan Marion throughout his recruitment but got merely $3,000 from the college's NIL collective. UNLV said in a statement that Sluka's agents made monetary demands for him to maintain playing that it took "an infraction of NCAA pay-for-play guidelines, and also Nevada state legislation." Editor's Picks2 RelatedOdom checked out from an equipped claim throughout his postgame news conference and also performed not take inquiries concerning Sluka. He stated UNLV abided by relevant regulations as well as is actually committed to the growth and results of every gamer in the system." A lot of have revealed quite solid viewpoints concerning the events of recently without total know-how of the realities, without total know-how of the celebrations of last week and also without total expertise of the rules in the ever-changing, evolving NIL system," Odom mentioned. "And also unfortunately, some have actually even used this scenario as a platform for their very own agendas. I appreciate everybody's right to a viewpoint, as well as I will not comment on others' viewpoints or even their motivations for sharing them." White also had a message for Circa Athletics CEO Derek Stevens after the Las vega casino site shared rate of interest in delivering $100,000 to keep Sluka on the group, informing the Las Vegas Review-Journal that doing so would certainly be worth it "to always keep the Rebels' playoff hopes to life."" I would talk to that someone communicate to the Circa CEO and ask him, with that said $100,000 that he wished to donate, inflict our O-line satisfy," White said.The Rebels snapped a six-game losing touch against Fresno State as well as obtained the plan's first 4-0 begin considering that 1976 with a tough day in every three phases of the game. Their protection made four interceptions as well as 4 sacks while permitting just 30 rushing yards, as well as their exclusive groups provided a blocked punting that White came back for a goal in the initial one-fourth plus a 90-yard first yield goal by Jai'Den Thomas in the 4th quarter.The triumph maintains UNLV in the race for the broadened 12-team College Soccer Playoff and also wraps up a turbulent week for an athletic department that was simultaneously dealing with the current around of association realignment in university athletics.UNLV formally made a decision to continue to be in the Mountain West on Thursday, turning down a relocate to the Pac-12 following that game's enhancement of Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno Condition, San Diego State as well as Utah State for 2026. The 7 continuing to be institutions in the Mountain range West consented to a grant of rights that will tie them to the association via 2031-32. After currently defeating Major 12 members Houston and Kansas in nonconference play, UNLV gets another option to take down an Energy 4 rival and enhance its CFP ru00e9sumu00e9 when it organizes 3-1 Syracuse on Friday." Our fellas will certainly turn the web page truly rapidly," Odom claimed. "I could possibly inform in the locker room our experts're ready to perform that and hop on to the following video game.".