This is obviously not the news anyone wanted to see. While it may be April, Tennessee football fans are counting down the days for the 2025 season to get here, as the Vols are hoping to get back to the College Football Playoff. The hope is Nico Iamaleava will have a huge campaign too.
However, it's now up in the air if said huge campaign will be coming with Tennessee? According to On3's Pete Nakos, the Vols and Iamaleava are in contract discussions leading up to the 2025 season and it sure looks like a window has opened for him to potentially transfer if things go south. What in the world? This would of course be the worst-case scenario for Josh Heupel and Co.
NEW: Tennessee & Nico Iamaleava are in active contract negotiations ahead of the 2025 season, @PeteNakos_ reports.
— On3 (@On3sports) April 10, 2025
It is unclear if the negotiations will impact whether he enters the spring transfer portal.
Intel: https://t.co/hKystSE5ZY pic.twitter.com/8nl3LkbYa6
Tennessee and Nico Iamaleava are reportedly trying to figure out a new contract
This just goes to show how the college football landscape has changed. The fact that this report is dropping leading up to the Vols' Spring Game sure is disappointing and you better believe that Heupel is going to be asked about things soon too.
Think this is what he wants to be talking about right now? Not at all. Iamaleava is coming off a solid first year as the Vols' starting quarterback, throwing for 2,616 yards and 19 touchdowns. With him and SEC Player of the Year Dylan Sampson leading the way on offense, Tennessee posted a 10-win season and it reached the CFP for the first time in program history.
In the first round, Ohio State posted a dominant win, which was a disappointing way to close out the season for Heupel and his players. Since then, though, Tennessee has added plenty of help this offseason and Iamaleava has been turning heads during spring ball.
It goes without saying, but the pressure is going to be on for Iamaleava to look like one of the top QBs in the SEC in '25. Plenty of experts think he's one of the best QBs in the country, but now the UT fanbase must be worried beyond belief the stud signal-caller could leave town for a bigger payday. This will be a situation to keep a close eye on moving forward.