Max Olson, ESPN Staff Writer September 28, 2024, 8:48pm ET
Close Covers the Big 12 Joined ESPN in 2012 Graduated from University of Nebraska
LAS VEGAS — UNLV released a statement Saturday saying “the Rebels will be fine” in the first game without former starting quarterback Matthew Sulka.
UNLV posted an emphatic 59-14 victory over Fresno State, moving to 4-0 and proving to be a strong contender for Mountain West Conference contention despite a quarterback change.
Hadjmalik Williams threw for 182 yards and had 119 yards rushing for four total touchdowns in his first start with the Rebels after Sulka opted to leave the program Wednesday over a dispute over NIL compensation. .
“It was business as usual,” UNLV coach Barry Odom said. “Our team is very mature. … Our players, we have strong leadership. They understand our mission and they’ve done it.”
Williams, a sixth-year player who transferred to FCS from Campbell, joined the Rebels in January, but lost in a close battle to Sulka in fall training. The 24-year-old quarterback appeared in 41 games at Campbell University, leaving as the program’s career leader in passing yards and touchdowns, and was ready for his chance.
“I thought he was effective, I thought he was efficient,” Odom said. “I thought the offensive line did a great job guarding him. I thought the receivers ran great routes. I thought the runners ran hard. We played well as an offense.”
UNLV wide receiver Ricky White III led the Rebels with a season-high 10 catches, 127 yards and two touchdowns and said the quarterback change was “definitely a good thing for us.”
“He’s just a great quarterback and we as an offense can rally behind him and go at his pace,” White said.
After starting three games at UNLV, Sulka opted to redshirt and was scheduled to enter the transfer portal in December. Sulka’s father and agent were verbally promised $100,000 by UNLV offensive coordinator Brennan Marion during Sulka’s recruiting campaign, but only received $3,000 from the school’s NIL Collective. It is claimed that UNLV said in a statement that it interprets Sulka’s agent’s financial demands for the player to continue playing as a “violation of the NCAA’s pay-for-play rules and Nevada law.”
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Odom read a prepared statement during his postgame press conference and did not respond to questions about Sulka. He said UNLV complies with applicable regulations and is committed to the growth and success of all players in the program.
“Many people expressed very strong opinions about what happened last week without knowing enough of the facts, without knowing enough about what happened last week, and without knowing enough about the ever-changing and evolving rules of the NIL system.” said Odom. “And unfortunately, some are even using this situation as a platform for their own agenda. I will not comment on that.”
White also sent a message to Circa Sports CEO Derek Stevens after a Las Vegas casino expressed interest in offering Surka $100,000 to keep him on the team, saying: “It’s worth it to keep our playoff hopes alive,” he told the Las Vegas Review-Journal. . ”
“I would ask that someone contact the CEO of Circa and donate the $100,000 they would like to donate to our O-line,” White said.
The Rebels snapped a six-game losing streak against Fresno State, had a strong day in all three phases of the game, and earned the program’s first 4-0 start since 1976. Their defense had four interceptions and four sacks, giving up just 30 rushing yards, and their special teams had a successful punt block that White returned for a touchdown in the first quarter and a touchdown in the fourth. Jayden Thomas scored a 90-yard kickoff return touchdown. quarter.
The win capped a chaotic week for the athletic department, which kept UNLV in the race for the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff while simultaneously grappling with college athletics’ latest conference realignment.
UNLV officially decided Thursday to remain in the Mountain West, declining to move to the Pac-12 in 2026 following the addition of Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State and Utah State. . The Mountain West agreed to give them the right to participate in the conference through 2031-32.
UNLV, which has already defeated Big 12 members Houston and Kansas in nonconference play, will have another chance to strengthen its CFP record by defeating a Power 4 opponent when it hosts 3-1 Syracuse on Friday. .
“Our players are going to turn the page really quickly,” Odom said. “You could tell in the locker room that we were ready to execute and move on to the next game.”
