The situation between the Tennessee Volunteers football team and quarterback Nico Iamaleava quickly deteriorated from unusual to contentious and finally to nonexistent. ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported on Saturday that the school is parting ways with its starting quarterback after he chose to skip practice on Friday amidst discussions regarding NIL contracts. Head coach Josh Heupel informed the team of the decision on Saturday morning before their spring game. Sources indicated that Iamaleava missing practice was the final straw, following his father’s critical comments about on3’s Pete Nakos, who had reported that the star quarterback and Tennessee were engaged in “active contract negotiations.” Nakos’s reporting proved to be accurate.
Later on, ESPN’s Chris Low revealed that Iamaleava told offensive coordinator Joey Halzle late Friday night that he intended to enter the transfer portal next week. Low also mentioned earlier in the week that Iamaleava was seeking to increase his NIL compensation to $4 million, despite previously agreeing to a contract reportedly worth $8 million. Since he started receiving payments while still in high school, the contract’s estimated total value may be closer to $10 million, according to ESPN.
This news sent shockwaves throughout the college football and sports media landscapes, prompting mixed reactions. Some critics accused Iamaleava of being selfish and greedy, while others viewed his decision as a business move, offering him a chance to assess his market value within the evolving NIL framework.
As for Iamaleava and Tennessee:
Tennessee is taking a risk here, but Nico didn’t exactly light the world on fire with his play. Get a chance to restart with someone else.
Nico Iamaleava held out and found out.
— Brandon Marcello (@brandonmarcello.com) April 12, 2025 at 7:45 AM
Iamaleava: definitely got what he wanted. Can go to a school where he gets more money. Texas Tech, USC, UCLA (maybe Sac State?)
— JP Acosta (@acosta32jp.bsky.social) April 12, 2025 at 8:18 AM
The completely fractured and decaying state of college football, and the Nico Iamaleava situation.
A nuanced take: pic.twitter.com/TOyZe9LqOK
— Emmanuel Acho (@EmmanuelAcho) April 12, 2025
Truly incredible turn of events.
Nico Iamaleava is getting some terrible advice. Spring is not the time for QBs to transfer – especially a QB coming from a unique system. He won’t get up to speed on the offense by September at many programs. I doubt he’s starting anywhere in Week 1.
— Ryan McCrystal (@ryanmccrystal.bsky.social) April 12, 2025 at 6:59 AM
Tennessee is much better off without Nico Iamaleava.
— Barrett Sallee 🇺🇸 (@BarrettSallee) April 12, 2025
This Tennessee/Iamaleava situation is wild and yet totally predictable! Of course this was going to happen when there are no guard rails and rules to govern the business and movement of the sports players. You may not like what Nico is doing, but it is certainly his right.
— Joel Klatt (@joelklatt) April 12, 2025
Good for you #Tennessee and Josh Heupel. Enough is enough.
Sources: Tennessee is moving on from starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava. Tennessee coach Josh He… – via @ESPN App https://t.co/UVAoRqIO7D
— Tom Luginbill 🇺🇸 🏈 (@TomLuginbill) April 12, 2025
Expect the conversation around this situation to continue well into next week.
