.Max Olson, ESPN Staff WriterSep 28, 2024, 08:48 PM ETCloseCovers the Huge 12Joined ESPN in 2012Graduate of the University of NebraskaLAS LAS VEGA-- UNLV created a statement Sunday in its own initial game without former beginning quarterback Matthew Sluka: The Rebels are mosting likely to be actually merely fine.Rolling to a dominant 59-14 get Fresno State and relocating to 4-0, UNLV showed it'll be actually a competitor in the Mountain range West race no matter its own quarterback change.Hajj-Malik Williams threw for 182 backyards, hurried for 119 lawns as well as made up four complete goals in his initial beginning for the Rebels after Sluka chose to leave the plan on Wednesday over a disagreement about his NIL payment." It was actually business as usual," UNLV instructor Barry Odom said. "Our experts've acquired a really mature staff. ... Our players, our team have actually got solid management. They comprehend the purpose that our company get on and they received it performed." Williams, a sixth-year senior as well as FCS transmission coming from Campbell, signed up with the Rebels in January and shed a close competition along with Sluka in fall camping ground. The 24-year-old quarterback played in 41 games at Campbell, leaving behind as the plan's occupation innovator in passing lawns as well as touchdowns, as well as was ready for his chance." I assumed he worked, I thought he was actually effective," Odom claimed. "I presumed the outrageous line did a tremendous task safeguarding him. I believed the recipients ran great routes. I believed the runners managed hard. We played well as an outburst." UNLV pass receiver Ricky White III led the Rebels with a season-high 10 drawbacks for 127 yards and two touchdowns and also mentioned the quarterback adjustment was "most definitely good for our company."" He is actually simply a great quarterback that us, as an outburst, our team can rally behind as well as just pass his pace," White said.After beginning three games for UNLV, Sluka opted to redshirt and is counted on to enter into the move website in December. Sluka's daddy and representative have declared he was vocally promised $100,000 by UNLV objectionable planner Brennan Marion during his recruitment but obtained just $3,000 from the school's NIL collective. UNLV pointed out in a statement that Sluka's reps created economic needs for him to maintain playing that it interpreted as "a violation of NCAA pay-for-play guidelines, and also Nevada state rule." Publisher's Picks2 RelatedOdom checked out coming from an equipped declaration during the course of his postgame press conference and carried out certainly not take inquiries pertaining to Sluka. He said UNLV abided by appropriate rules as well as is actually dedicated to the development as well as results of every player in the program." Numerous have actually shown quite strong point of views regarding the activities of recently without total understanding of the simple facts, without total understanding of the activities of recently and without full knowledge of the regulation in the ever-changing, progressing NIL device," Odom said. "As well as sadly, some have actually even used this circumstance as a system for their own plans. I value everyone's right to an opinion, as well as I will not talk about others' opinions or even their incentives for expressing all of them." White additionally possessed a notification for Circa Sports Chief Executive Officer Derek Stevens after the Las vega gambling establishment showed interest in providing $100,000 to keep Sluka on the group, telling the Las Vegas Review-Journal that accomplishing this will cost it "to keep the Rebels' playoff wishes alive."" I will inquire that somebody communicate to the Circa CEO and inquire him, with that said $100,000 that he wanted to donate, give it to our O-line satisfy," White said.The Rebels snapped a six-game losing touch versus Fresno State and also accomplished the program's initial 4-0 beginning given that 1976 along with a strong time with all 3 periods of the activity. Their protection made four interceptions and also 4 sacks while making it possible for only 30 rushing yards, as well as their unique staffs delivered an obstructed punting that White came back for a touchdown in the 1st quarter plus a 90-yard kickoff return goal by Jai'Den Thomas in the 4th quarter.The victory keeps UNLV in the competition for the increased 12-team University Regulation football Playoff and concludes a disorderly full week for an athletic team that was actually all at once dealing with the most up to date around of event realignment in university athletics.UNLV officially made a decision to stay in the Mountain West on Thursday, refusing a move to the Pac-12 complying with that organization's addition of Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State and also Utah State for 2026. The seven continuing to be schools in the Mountain West agreed to a grant of liberties that will definitely tie all of them to the association via 2031-32. After already defeating Big 12 members Houston and also Kansas in nonconference play, UNLV gets one more opportunity to take down an Energy 4 challenger as well as enhance its CFP ru00e9sumu00e9 when it holds 3-1 Syracuse on Friday." Our individuals will flip the web page really swiftly," Odom said. "I might say to in the storage locker space our company're ready to do that as well as jump on to the upcoming activity.".