.Max Olson, ESPN Team WriterSep 28, 2024, 08:48 PM ETCloseCovers the Significant 12Joined ESPN in 2012Graduate of the University of NebraskaLAS VEGAS-- UNLV brought in a statement Saturday in its 1st game without former starting quarterback Matthew Sluka: The Rebels are actually heading to be only fine.Rolling to a leading 59-14 win over Fresno Condition and also moving to 4-0, UNLV confirmed it'll be an opponent in the Hill West competition no matter its own quarterback change.Hajj-Malik Williams tossed for 182 yards, rushed for 119 gardens and also accounted for four overall touchdowns in his very first beginning for the Rebels after Sluka chose to leave behind the program on Wednesday over a conflict concerning his NIL settlement." It was business customarily," UNLV train Barry Odom stated. "Our experts have actually got a very fully grown staff. ... Our players, we've got strong leadership. They understand the objective that our company're on and they obtained it performed." Williams, a sixth-year senior as well as FCS move from Campbell, joined the Rebels in January and lost a close competition with Sluka in loss camp. The 24-year-old quarterback played in 41 games at Campbell, leaving behind as the course's career forerunner in passing backyards and touchdowns, and was ready for his possibility." I assumed he worked, I presumed he was reliable," Odom mentioned. "I assumed the offending line carried out a significant job securing him. I believed the receivers managed excellent options. I believed the runners managed hard. Our experts played properly as an outburst." UNLV wide receiver Ricky White III led the Rebels with a season-high 10 drawbacks for 127 backyards and 2 goals and pointed out the quarterback adjustment was "certainly suitable for our company."" He's only a great quarterback that our company, as an outburst, we may move at the rear of as well as only pass his pace," White said.After beginning 3 ready UNLV, Sluka chose to redshirt and is actually expected to get in the move site in December. Sluka's papa as well as agent have actually affirmed he was verbally promised $100,000 by UNLV outrageous planner Brennan Marion during his employment however acquired simply $3,000 from the institution's NIL collective. UNLV claimed in a statement that Sluka's agents made financial requirements for him to keep participating in that it took "an offense of NCAA pay-for-play guidelines, along with Nevada state rule." Editor's Picks2 RelatedOdom read coming from a prepared statement in the course of his postgame news conference and did certainly not take inquiries regarding Sluka. He said UNLV abided by appropriate policies and is dedicated to the progression and success of every player in the plan." Several have actually shown extremely solid opinions regarding the activities of last week without total expertise of the simple facts, without total knowledge of the celebrations of recently and also without total know-how of the regulation in the ever-changing, developing NIL unit," Odom claimed. "As well as regrettably, some have actually even used this instance as a system for their very own schedules. I recognize everybody's right to an opinion, as well as I will not discuss others' point of views or their incentives for expressing all of them." White additionally possessed a message for Circa Athletics Chief Executive Officer Derek Stevens after the Las vega gambling enterprise conveyed interest in offering $100,000 to keep Sluka on the group, saying to the Sin city Review-Journal that doing so would cost it "to always keep the Rebels' playoff hopes to life."" I would ask that someone communicate to the Circa chief executive officer and also ask him, keeping that $100,000 that he would like to give, give it to our O-line feel free to," White said.The Rebels popped a six-game losing touch against Fresno State as well as achieved the plan's 1st 4-0 start given that 1976 with a solid day in every three phases of the video game. Their protection created four interceptions as well as 4 sacks while allowing simply 30 hurrying gardens, as well as their exclusive groups supplied a blocked out punting that White came back for a touchdown in the very first one-fourth plus a 90-yard kickoff gain touchdown through Jai'Den Thomas in the 4th quarter.The triumph keeps UNLV in the race for the extended 12-team University Football Playoff and also wraps up a disorderly full week for an athletic department that was actually all at once dealing with the most recent sphere of association realignment in college athletics.UNLV formally decided to remain in the Mountain range West on Thursday, turning down a move to the Pac-12 observing that league's addition of Boise Condition, Colorado Condition, Fresno Condition, San Diego Condition and Utah State for 2026. The seven continuing to be institutions in the Hill West accepted a grant of legal rights that will definitely tie them to the conference by means of 2031-32. After currently defeating Big 12 participants Houston as well as Kansas in nonconference play, UNLV obtains another option to take down an Electrical power 4 opponent as well as enhance its CFP ru00e9sumu00e9 when it holds 3-1 Syracuse on Friday." Our guys will definitely turn the webpage truly quickly," Odom stated. "I can tell in the closet area our experts prepare to do that and get on to the next video game.".