Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava suffered an upper-body injury during the first half of the game against Mississippi State and did not return for the second half. Despite his absence, Tennessee secured a 33-14 victory, with backup quarterback Gaston Moore stepping in to lead the team. The exact timing and nature of Iamaleava's injury remain unclear, though it followed a hit by Mississippi State's Isaac Smith. Iamaleava had a strong first half, completing 8 of 13 passes for 174 yards and two touchdowns. Head coach Josh Heupel expressed optimism about Iamaleava's recovery, suggesting he could be ready for the upcoming game against Georgia. Tennessee, currently ranked No. 7, will face No. 2 Georgia next week, and Iamaleava's availability will be crucial to their playoff hopes.