Nico Iamaleava Transfers to UCLA After NIL Dispute

Former Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava has officially transferred to UCLA after a high-profile split from the Volunteers, primarily due to a dispute over his Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) compensation. Iamaleava, a highly-rated California native, led Tennessee to a 12-2 record and its first College Football Playoff appearance, earning around $2.2-2.4 million annually under a multi-year NIL deal before seeking a raise to $4 million. Tennessee parted ways with Iamaleava after he missed a key spring practice, though his family maintains that finances were not the only reason for his departure. The financial terms of his UCLA NIL deal remain undisclosed, but are expected to be less than what he requested at Tennessee. Iamaleava now returns home to a UCLA program coming off a 5-7 season and in need of a starting quarterback. He expressed gratitude to Tennessee fans and said the decision to transfer was 'incredibly difficult,' citing his faith as a factor in choosing UCLA.