.Max Olson, ESPN Staff WriterSep 28, 2024, 08:48 PM ETCloseCovers the Large 12Joined ESPN in 2012Graduate of the College of NebraskaLAS VEGAS-- UNLV brought in a declaration Saturday in its own initial video game without previous starting quarterback Matthew Sluka: The Rebels are actually visiting be simply fine.Rolling to a leading 59-14 draw Fresno State and transferring to 4-0, UNLV showed it'll be a contender in the Hill West race irrespective of its quarterback change.Hajj-Malik Williams tossed for 182 yards, rushed for 119 gardens and also represented four total goals in his very first begin for the Rebels after Sluka chose to leave behind the program on Wednesday over an issue about his NIL compensation." It was actually service as usual," UNLV train Barry Odom stated. "We have actually obtained an incredibly fully grown group. ... Our gamers, our team have actually obtained solid leadership. They know the objective that we're on and also they got it performed." Williams, a sixth-year elderly as well as FCS transactions from Campbell, signed up with the Rebels in January and lost a close competitors along with Sluka in autumn camp. The 24-year-old quarterback played in 41 games at Campbell, leaving as the program's occupation leader in passing yards and also touchdowns, as well as was ready for his option." I assumed he worked, I thought he was dependable," Odom stated. "I presumed the annoying line performed a tremendous project protecting him. I believed the receivers operated excellent courses. I thought the distance runners managed hard. Our team participated in properly as an outburst." UNLV pass receiver Ricky White III led the Rebels along with a season-high 10 catches for 127 gardens and also pair of touchdowns and also stated the quarterback modification was actually "definitely good for our team."" He's merely an excellent quarterback that our company, as an outburst, our company can rally behind and simply go by his rate," White said.After beginning three ready UNLV, Sluka opted to redshirt as well as is actually counted on to go into the move site in December. Sluka's daddy as well as agent have affirmed he was vocally promised $100,000 through UNLV outrageous planner Brennan Marion during the course of his employment yet got merely $3,000 coming from the institution's NIL collective. UNLV said in a statement that Sluka's representatives created economic demands for him to keep playing that it took "a violation of NCAA pay-for-play guidelines, and also Nevada condition rule." Publisher's Picks2 RelatedOdom gone through from a ready statement during his postgame news conference and performed not take questions pertaining to Sluka. He pointed out UNLV adhered to relevant policies and is committed to the growth as well as excellence of every player in the system." Many have actually shared very sturdy point of views regarding the occasions of recently without complete expertise of the realities, without total knowledge of the activities of last week and also without complete knowledge of the regulation in the ever-changing, growing NIL unit," Odom said. "As well as unfortunately, some have also utilized this situation as a system for their own agendas. I value everybody's right to a point of view, and also I won't talk about others' viewpoints or their inspirations for sharing all of them." White also had an information for Circa Sports Chief Executive Officer Derek Stevens after the Las vega online casino showed enthusiasm in delivering $100,000 to always keep Sluka on the team, telling the Sin city Review-Journal that accomplishing this will be worth it "to always keep the Rebels' playoff really hopes active."" I would certainly ask that someone communicate to the Circa CEO and also ask him, keeping that $100,000 that he intended to give away, give it to our O-line please," White said.The Rebels snapped a six-game losing touch versus Fresno Condition and also accomplished the system's 1st 4-0 start due to the fact that 1976 with a tough day in every 3 phases of the video game. Their self defense produced four interceptions and also four sacks while allowing merely 30 hurrying gardens, and also their unique crews delivered a blocked out punting that White returned for a goal in the 1st quarter plus a 90-yard first profit goal by Jai'Den Thomas in the fourth quarter.The victory maintains UNLV in the race for the grown 12-team College Football Playoff and also concludes a chaotic full week for a sports department that was actually simultaneously taking care of the latest sphere of event adjustment in college athletics.UNLV formally determined to continue to be in the Mountain range West on Thursday, disapproving a transfer to the Pac-12 complying with that game's add-on of Boise State, Colorado Condition, Fresno Condition, San Diego State and also Utah State for 2026. The seven staying colleges in the Mountain West consented to a give of rights that will definitely tie them to the conference through 2031-32. After currently defeating Major 12 participants Houston as well as Kansas in nonconference play, UNLV receives one more opportunity to take down an Energy 4 opponent as well as enhance its own CFP ru00e9sumu00e9 when it throws 3-1 Syracuse on Friday." Our fellas will definitely flip the web page actually swiftly," Odom claimed. "I could possibly inform in the closet space we're ready to do that and also hop on to the following video game.".