(Photo: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images)

Every team faces challenges during a long season, but No. 25 UNLV took on a heavy dose of adversity last week.

The Rebels have passed their first test since the departure of starting point guard Matthew Sluka and will look to mount another challenge on Friday when Syracuse visits Las Vegas in an intriguing non-conference matchup.

UNLV (4-0) was ranked for the first time in program history, but it wasn’t all smooth sailing for the Rebels.

They won their first three games behind Sluka, who scored six passing touchdowns while rushing for a team-high 253 yards. However, Sluka left the team last Tuesday after a disagreement over NIL’s unfulfilled promises.

The sudden departure left UNLV coach Barry Odom scrambling to prepare Hajj-Malik Williams for the matchup against Fresno State, although the contest turned into a one-sided game with the Rebels winning 59-14. Williams, a transfer from Campbell, threw for three touchdowns and ran for a score. He finished 13 of 16 for 182 yards and added 12 carries for 119 yards.

“Any time you play against someone like Hajj, who can run and throw, it’s tough,” Syracuse coach Fran Brown said. “It’s a nightmare for the defensive coordinator and head coach. You think about it all week.”

Odom, however, does not want his team to be satisfied with a place at the bottom of the rankings. After Friday’s contest, the Rebels play three of their next four games on the road, with their only home game being against No. 21 Boise State.

So UNLV has little margin for error with a tough stretch ahead.

“I think this is exactly where UNLV football should be,” Odom said, referring to the national rankings in general. “That’s our goal – one of our goals – is to be in the top 25, continue to climb and get into a position where we have a place every week on the national stage (in the rankings).”

Ricky White has been up and down through UNLV’s first four contests. In weeks one and three against Houston and Kansas, respectively, he totaled five catches for 15 yards without a score. In the remaining two games against Utah Tech and Fresno State, he had 15 catches for 238 yards and five touchdowns.

White will certainly be in the spotlight as Syracuse (3-1) develops its defensive game plan. In last week’s 42-14 game, the Orange limited Holy Cross to 203 yards and 2 of 14 third-down conversions.

Still, Brown – like his UNLV counterpart – isn’t satisfied.

“I don’t think we’re far from what we could accomplish yet,” Brown said after the game. “We just have to keep growing.”

Kyle McCord has been sent off twice in each of the last two games, but overall he has been impressive in his first season with Syracuse. The transfer from Ohio State accounted for 1,459 passing yards and 14 touchdowns in four contests, throwing for at least 339 yards in each game.

Trebor Pena leads the team in interceptions (26), receiving yards (316) and touchdown catches (five), although various Syracuse receivers have taken turns flashing the offense over the past month.

Jackson Meeks took the spotlight against Holy Cross, recording 10 catches for 161 yards and a score.

“My mentality is always the same – attack, attack, attack,” Meeks said.

This is the first ever meeting between the teams.

–Field level media