It appears that Nico Iamaleava has landed at his transfer portal destination.
The former Tennessee quarterback, who sought greener pastures financially elsewhere after the Volunteers rebuffed his pursuit of a raise, is heading to the West Coast.
Fox Sports' Colin Cowherd reported Wednesday afternoon that Iamaleava has chosen UCLA as his new college football home.
I am told — moments ago — Nico Iamaleava is going to UCLA. Family still claims it’s NOT about the 💰It’s about the @Vol_Football offense. I was not told what the Bruins are paying.
— Colin Cowherd (@colincowherd) April 16, 2025
Reports earlier in the week from On3 indicated that UCLA would not pay close to Iamaleava's desired $4 million in NIL money.
Iamaleava was making $2.5 million in NIL at Tennessee, but he wanted the bigger total after leading the Vols to the College Football Playoff.
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Tennessee coach Josh Heupel stood firm against Iamaleava's desire.
It led to a weird game of cat and mouse where no one was sure if another college football team would meet Iamaleava's demands.
It's a weird time to transfer, given that most top programs already have a quarterback in place for 2025.
UCLA went just 3-6 in its first season of Big Ten play, though, and could use the jolt. The Bruins were 5-7 overall.
Iamaleava's brother, Madden, previously flipped from the Bruins on National Signing Day, so the family knows UCLA's coaching staff well.
If Cowherd's report is indeed true, it's just the latest step in Iamaleava's saga that began in high school and continued through Tennessee and now heads out to Hollywood.
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