Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman slammed the “transactional” decisions some players are making. His comments on NIL-driven transfers come after Nico Iamaleava’s demand at Tennessee, resulting in him heading toward the transfer portal.
When Money Talks Too Loudly
The Iamaleava story has become big news in college football. The talented quarterback, who was Tennessee’s starter and a former five-star recruit, wanted more money. Reports say he tried to get his NIL deal increased to about $4 million per year.
When Tennessee said no, Iamaleava stopped showing up to practices and meetings. This forced Tennessee to cut ties with him right before their spring game.
Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman speaks on the Nico Iamaleava/Tennesssee situation⬇️
“Transactional decisions aren’t always the best ones for your future.”
(via @jdpickell) pic.twitter.com/hmVFRJKoES
— On3 (@On3sports) April 15, 2025
Freeman said that while this case has been very public, similar money talks are happening quietly at schools across the country. Both players and schools now have people who handle these negotiations, but Iamaleava’s case has gotten much more attention than most.
“Transactional decisions aren’t always the best ones for your future. And I think every situation is different. Every football program is different,” Freeman said. “But at the end of the day, you want to do what’s right for college football, between what’s right for college football and what’s right for our players.
“But you don’t want this public disagreement to really tarnish what’s so good about our profession and sport.”
College Football’s Changing World
The Iamaleava situation shows how NIL deals and the transfer portal are changing college football in big ways. Players now have more power to make money from their name and switch schools, but this creates new problems. Coaches find it harder to keep their teams together when star players make public demands or threaten to leave.
Other famous coaches like LSU’s Brian Kelly and Georgia’s Kirby Smart share Freeman’s concerns about how NIL is changing college sports. Kelly has called this a time of “adjustment,” saying that NIL rules and money sharing will keep changing how college sports work.
KEEP READING: Notre Dame Transfer Portal Update: Full List of Transfers Since Last Window in December
Even though Iamaleava is clearly talented, reports say Notre Dame doesn’t want him on their team. Sources say both Notre Dame and USC aren’t interested in him, possibly because of how publicly he left Tennessee and the complications with his NIL demands.
Freeman’s comments show the tough balance between giving players more power and keeping the traditional values of college football. He believes players should be paid fairly, but worries when they focus only on getting more money right now instead of thinking about what’s best for their future.
As college football continues to change, finding this balance remains a major challenge.
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