Syracuse football will soon play a much different UNLV. How will that affect 'Cuse?

In his second year with UNLV, head coach Barry Odom is 3-0, something that hasn't happened in Las Vegas since 1984. However, the make-up of the team will be vastly different from here on out as QB Matthew Sluka and RB Michael Allen are both out for the year. Interestingly, the two aren't injured, but just announced that they will be redshirting for the rest of the season to preserve their eligibility.

Through three games, all starts, Matthew Sluka, who in preseason I ranked as theeighth-best quarterback Syracuse football plays in 2024, has thrown for 318 yards, six touchdowns, with one interception while only completing 43.8% of passes. He's been much better on the ground, running 39 times for 253 yards and a touchdown.

North Carolina State Wolfpack transfer Michael Allen has ran 19 times for 108 yards, an average of 5.7 YPC. Allen has played in each game, although he saw his role decrease as each game went on. For UNLV, Sluka, a transfer from Holy Cross, has been the leading rusher and passer while Allen is fourth in rushing.

UNLV is expected to start Hajj-Malik Williams on Saturday when they host Fresno State. Williams is in his sixth year of college football and his first at UNLV, He spent the previous five years at FCS Campbell and holds program records for career passing yards (8,236), single-season passing yards (2,597), and career passing touchdowns (58). Behind him, the Rebels have program veteran Cameron Friel, who has 10 career starts. Sluka, Williams, and Friel were all in an offseason quarterback battle, so both Williams and Friel are decent enough options.

Syracuse football will travel to UNLV in early October, and the Rebels' roster will look different.

Michael Allen is less of a loss, but it still hurts the Rebels depth nonetheless. Offensive coordinator and play caller Brennan Marion frequently plays multiple running backs at a time as apart of his Go-Go offense. Marion also subs a lot of players and I believe Allen, despite only receiving one carry against Kansas, would have played some role against the Orange.

Freshman Greg Burrell and Central Arkansas transfer Kylin James are the two lead backs for the Rebels. Burrell has 20 carries for 126 yards and a touchdown while James has run 19 times for 114 yards and a score. Both are above 6.0 yards per carry. Sophomore Jai'Den Thomas, UNLV's second leading rusher from last year, is expected to step up for Allen. He ran for 503 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2023, but only has 65 yards on 18 carries in 2024. Thomas does have two touchdowns, one rushing, and one coming off a 27-yard pass against Kansas.

This is not the time to talk about the reasoning behind Sluka and Allen's decisions and the changing nature of college football. For Sluka specifically, there's a lot of he-said she-said going around about tampering, Sluka asking for more NIL money, and UNLV's collective not delivering on their contract. But either way, UNLV players seem excited to see Sluka go.

Jackson Woodard, the Rebels All-Mountain West linebacker, said "Bout Time! Let's Ride" as a reply to a tweet of Hajj-Malik Williams captioned "QB1". In addition, All-American UNLV wide receiver Ricky White seems confident about his and Williams' performance against Fresno State this weekend.

Syracuse football plays UNLV on Friday, Oct. 4. The game will kick off at 9:00 pm EST and be broadcast on FS1. The Rebels are ranked 23rd in the CFB Coaches Poll and are receiving 53 votes in the AP Poll. If the Rebels get a win this week against Fresno State, this could easily become a top-25 road game for Syracuse.