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Nico Iamaleava to Transfer to UCLA Following NIL Standoff with Tennessee

The former Tennessee quarterback, who led the Volunteers to their first College Football Playoff, is reportedly joining UCLA after a historic NIL holdout and transfer portal entry.

Dec 21, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Nico Iamaleava (8) throws against the Ohio State Buckeyes during the second half of the College Football Playoff first round game at Ohio Stadium. Ohio State won 42-17. Mandatory Credit: Adam Cairns-Imagn Images/File photo
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Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava (8) scores a touchdown against Iowa during the 2024 Citrus Bowl at Camping World Stadium.
Quarterback Nico Iamaleava, seen before a game between Tennessee and North Carolina State on Sept. 8, 2024, in Charlotte, N.C., was regarded as the top player in the transfer portal. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)

Overview

  • Nico Iamaleava officially entered the NCAA transfer portal on April 16 with a 'do not contact' tag, signaling he would initiate communication with potential programs.
  • Reports indicate Iamaleava is set to join UCLA, though the NIL deal is expected to be significantly less than the $4 million he sought at Tennessee.
  • Iamaleava led Tennessee to a 10–3 record and its first-ever College Football Playoff appearance in 2024 but skipped spring practices and the spring game during the NIL dispute.
  • Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel stated the program is moving forward without Iamaleava, emphasizing that 'no one is bigger than the program.'
  • Iamaleava’s transfer highlights shifting dynamics in college football, with increased athlete leverage under NIL rules and growing tensions between player autonomy and program authority.