.Maximum Olson, ESPN Personnel WriterSep 28, 2024, 08:48 PM ETCloseCovers the Major 12Joined ESPN in 2012Graduate of the Educational Institution of NebraskaLAS LAS VEGA-- UNLV created a declaration Saturday in its own very first video game without previous starting quarterback Matthew Sluka: The Rebels are actually visiting be actually simply fine.Rolling to a leading 59-14 get Fresno State and also relocating to 4-0, UNLV showed it'll be an opponent in the Mountain range West race despite its quarterback change.Hajj-Malik Williams threw for 182 gardens, rushed for 119 backyards and also made up four complete goals in his first beginning for the Rebels after Sluka opted to leave the system on Wednesday over an issue concerning his NIL payment." It was service as usual," UNLV instructor Barry Odom claimed. "Our experts have actually got a very mature crew. ... Our players, our experts have actually got tough leadership. They know the mission that we get on and also they obtained it done." Williams, a sixth-year elderly as well as FCS move coming from Campbell, joined the Rebels in January as well as lost a close competition with Sluka in autumn camp. The 24-year-old quarterback played in 41 games at Campbell, leaving behind as the system's job innovator in passing yards as well as touchdowns, and also was ready for his option." I presumed he worked, I presumed he was effective," Odom stated. "I believed the objectionable line carried out an enormous work guarding him. I presumed the recipients operated wonderful routes. I presumed the joggers operated hard. We played 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 goals and also said the quarterback modification was actually "undoubtedly suitable for our company."" He's merely a wonderful quarterback that us, as an offense, we can move at the back of and merely go by his rate," White said.After starting three games for UNLV, Sluka chose to redshirt as well as is actually counted on to get in the move portal in December. Sluka's daddy as well as agent have actually declared he was verbally assured $100,000 by UNLV objectionable coordinator Brennan Marion during his employment however acquired simply $3,000 from the school's NIL aggregate. UNLV claimed in a declaration that Sluka's agents created financial needs for him to maintain playing that it took "a transgression of NCAA pay-for-play regulations, along with Nevada state legislation." Editor's Picks2 RelatedOdom read from a well prepared statement in the course of his postgame press conference and also did certainly not take inquiries relating to Sluka. He mentioned UNLV adhered to suitable guidelines as well as is dedicated to the advancement and excellence of every gamer in the system." A lot of have actually shown incredibly solid viewpoints about the celebrations of recently without complete understanding of the facts, without full expertise of the celebrations of last week and also without full knowledge of the rules in the ever-changing, progressing NIL body," Odom claimed. "And also regrettably, some have actually even used this condition as a platform for their personal programs. I respect everybody's right to a viewpoint, and also I will not talk about others' opinions or their inspirations for showing all of them." White additionally possessed a notification for Circa Sports CEO Derek Stevens after the Vegas online casino revealed passion in delivering $100,000 to keep Sluka on the crew, telling the Las Vegas Review-Journal that doing this would be worth it "to keep the Rebels' playoff really hopes active."" I will inquire that a person communicate to the Circa CEO and also inquire him, keeping that $100,000 that he would like to give, inflict our O-line feel free to," White said.The Rebels broke a six-game losing touch against Fresno Condition and also attained the system's first 4-0 begin due to the fact that 1976 along with a strong time in each three phases of the activity. Their defense made four interceptions and also 4 sacks while enabling just 30 hurrying lawns, as well as their unique crews delivered an obstructed punt that White returned for a touchdown in the first fourth plus a 90-yard first gain touchdown by Jai'Den Thomas in the fourth quarter.The triumph always keeps UNLV in the competition for the expanded 12-team College Regulation football Playoff as well as concludes a chaotic week for an athletic team that was at the same time taking care of the latest around of event realignment in university athletics.UNLV formally determined to remain in the Mountain West on Thursday, declining a relocate to the Pac-12 following that league's enhancement of Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno Condition, San Diego State as well as Utah Condition for 2026. The seven remaining universities in the Mountain West agreed to a give of liberties that will certainly tie all of them to the association via 2031-32. After currently defeating Big 12 participants Houston and Kansas in nonconference play, UNLV receives one more opportunity to remove an Energy 4 challenger as well as strengthen its CFP ru00e9sumu00e9 when it hosts 3-1 Syracuse on Friday." Our people are going to turn the page really rapidly," Odom mentioned. "I could possibly inform in the closet space our experts prepare to accomplish that as well as jump on to the upcoming video game.".