.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 made a statement Saturday in its initial activity without previous starting quarterback Matthew Sluka: The Rebels are visiting be actually just fine.Rolling to a leading 59-14 gain Fresno Condition as well as transferring to 4-0, UNLV showed it'll be an opponent in the Mountain West competition no matter its quarterback change.Hajj-Malik Williams tossed for 182 gardens, rushed for 119 lawns and also accounted for 4 complete goals in his first beginning for the Rebels after Sluka decided to leave behind the course on Wednesday over an issue regarding his NIL settlement." It was business as usual," UNLV coach Barry Odom said. "Our experts have actually got a very mature team. ... Our players, we've obtained sturdy management. They understand the objective that our experts perform and they got it performed." Williams, a sixth-year senior and FCS transfer from Campbell, participated in the Rebels in January as well as dropped a close competitors along with Sluka in autumn camp. The 24-year-old quarterback played in 41 activities at Campbell, leaving as the course's career forerunner in passing yards and also touchdowns, and also was ready for his chance." I presumed he was effective, I presumed he was actually dependable," Odom said. "I assumed the annoying line carried out a significant project securing him. I assumed the receivers ran great paths. I thought the joggers operated hard. Our company played properly as an offense." UNLV wide receiver Ricky White III led the Rebels with a season-high 10 catches for 127 lawns as well as two touchdowns as well as pointed out the quarterback adjustment was "undoubtedly helpful for us."" He is actually only a terrific quarterback that us, as an offense, we may rally at the back of and also simply pass his pace," White said.After starting 3 ready UNLV, Sluka opted to redshirt and is expected to go into the transmission gateway in December. Sluka's papa and also representative have alleged he was vocally vowed $100,000 by UNLV offensive planner Brennan Marion during his recruitment however obtained simply $3,000 from the institution's NIL aggregate. UNLV mentioned in a statement that Sluka's reps made economic requirements for him to keep participating in that it interpreted as "an offense of NCAA pay-for-play guidelines, as well as Nevada condition law." Publisher's Picks2 RelatedOdom checked out coming from an equipped claim in the course of his postgame press conference as well as performed not take questions pertaining to Sluka. He pointed out UNLV adhered to relevant guidelines as well as is actually devoted to the advancement as well as excellence of every gamer in the program." Lots of have shared very solid point of views about the celebrations of last week without total understanding of the simple facts, without complete expertise of the events of last week as well as without full knowledge of the regulation in the ever-changing, growing NIL unit," Odom mentioned. "As well as unfortunately, some have actually also utilized this instance as a platform for their very own agendas. I respect everybody's right to a point of view, as well as I will not discuss others' point of views or their inspirations for expressing all of them." White additionally possessed an information for Circa Athletics Chief Executive Officer Derek Stevens after the Vegas casino shared interest in offering $100,000 to keep Sluka on the team, informing the Las Vegas Review-Journal that doing this would deserve it "to always keep the Rebels' playoff really hopes to life."" I will talk to that somebody connect 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 satisfy," White said.The Rebels broke a six-game losing touch against Fresno Condition and also attained the program's first 4-0 beginning because 1976 with a powerful time in all 3 phases of the activity. Their defense made four interceptions as well as four sacks while permitting merely 30 rushing gardens, as well as their exclusive groups delivered a shut out punting that White returned for a touchdown in the very first fourth plus a 90-yard kickoff profit goal through Jai'Den Thomas in the fourth quarter.The victory maintains UNLV in the race for the grown 12-team University Soccer Playoff as well as concludes a chaotic week for an athletic team that was actually all at once coping with the most up to date sphere of event adjustment in college athletics.UNLV formally chose to remain in the Hill West on Thursday, turning down a move to the Pac-12 complying with that organization's addition of Boise State, Colorado Condition, Fresno State, San Diego State and also Utah State for 2026. The seven remaining universities in the Mountain West agreed to a give of civil rights that are going to tie them to the event through 2031-32. After presently defeating Huge 12 participants Houston as well as Kansas in nonconference play, UNLV gets one more chance to take down a Power 4 challenger as well as enhance its own CFP ru00e9sumu00e9 when it throws 3-1 Syracuse on Friday." Our individuals will certainly flip the webpage truly promptly," Odom stated. "I could inform in the storage locker space our team're ready to carry out that and jump on to the next game.".