Nico Iamaleava has been the biggest talking point in the college football world this offseason. However, as one analyst puts it, Tennessee Volunteers head coach Josh Heupel can become a school legend if the 2025 season goes to plan.
With Iamaleava at UCLA, Tennessee Football HC Josh Heupel Faces Defining Moment in 2025
It was a complete shock to everyone when quarterback Nico Iamaleava announced he would enter the transfer portal and look to leave the Tennessee Volunteers. With the QB now the starter for the UCLA Bruins, Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel has the chance to raise his status in the world of college football.
Iamaleava threw for 2,616 yards, 19 touchdowns and five interceptions in 2024, as he and Heupel led Tennessee to a 10-3 season and a College Football Playoff berth. Ultimately, they lost 42-17 in the first round to the eventual national champion Ohio State Buckeyes.
Everything was ascending for the school until Iamaleava moved on. College football analyst Josh Pate took to X in support of Heupel and believes this could be a career-defining season for the head coach.
The Iamaleava transfer to UCLA sparked outrage over NIL and the money now involved in luring student-athletes to different schools. His team denied that was the reason, and according to ESPN, he is earning less at UCLA than he was at Tennessee.
Bruins head coach DeShaun Foster said it was “something that we couldn’t pass up” in regard to bringing in Iamaleava.
Ironically, Iamaleava going to UCLA forced QB Joey Aguilar to enter the transfer portal himself. Aguilar has since committed to Tennessee and appears to be the Vols’ quarterback for the 2025 season. He was the starter at Appalachian State for the previous two seasons, throwing for 3,003 yards, 23 touchdowns and 14 interceptions in 2024, earning him the attention of UCLA.
For Heupel, this is a huge season and a true test after losing his star QB. He now has the opportunity to become a legend if he leads the Volunteers back to the playoffs and competes for the SEC title. That will be incredibly difficult for Aguilar and Heupel, with the SEC once again featuring a number of strong contenders.
Their 2025 schedule includes a home game against the Georgia Bulldogs and road trips to Alabama and Florida, which will provide real tests. Overall, the schedule is relatively kind to Tennessee. An opening day game against the Syracuse Orange will give fans and analysts a glimpse into the Heupel-Aguilar connection and how the Volunteers might build another successful season.
KEEP READING: Nico Iamaleava & Joey Aguilar’s Epic Swap
If Heupel can take Tennessee to the playoffs, he will be considered one of the best coaches in the game. A lot has happened this offseason, but the pieces are slowly coming together for what the Volunteers hope will be another great season.
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