Nico Iamaleava transfer: Big Ten program reportedly not interested in SEC QB

Starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava is expected to leave Tennessee following an NIL dispute. On Saturday, reports indicated that head coach Josh Heupel informed the team of the program’s decision to move on after Iamaleava and his camp reportedly sought more NIL money for the 2025 season.

While the portal is not open yet, all signs point to Iamaleava hitting the portal next week and leaving the program. So, where does Iamaleava turn next, especially with the consideration that he cannot transfer to an SEC program and be immediately eligible for the fall?

Well, Iamaleava is from California, so the logical consideration is that West Coast programs, particularly Big Ten programs such as USC, UCLA or Oregon, would be interested, but that is not necessarily the case. In fact, one California school reportedly has no interest in the quarterback, as well as Notre Dame.

According to John Brice with Football Scoop, USC is the first West Coast program without any plans to pursue Iamaleava, and Brice included Notre Dame as the first two prominent programs without interest in Iamaleava. Considering the QB situations at those respective programs, it could mean Iamaleava’s market has cooled considerably.

In his reaction to the news, Paul Finebaum addressed Iamaleava’s anticipated pending transfer and admitted you have to “look to that direction” of California and the West Coast. However, Finebaum also issued a “buyer beware” warning for handling Iamaleava after the “stench” left from the fiasco in Knoxville.

It could be teams do not have interest in Iamaleava because of that reason, but we’ll likely find out more sooner as opposed to later.

Paul Harvey

Paul is a lifelong fan and student of all things college football. He has been covering college football since 2017 and the B1G since 2018.