I know we had that weird NIL situation where the UNLV QB ended up leaving mid-year over an NIL dispute...but this is the first story I've noticed of a player sitting out before the season to try and negotiate a bigger payday.

Hopefully not a sign of things to come...but probably a sign of things to come as college sports morph into semi-pro sports.

The Nico Iamaleava saga so far:

• Signed an agreement with Tennessee’s NIL collective that could pay him more than $8 million by the end of his junior year (2022)

• Nico’s current contract has him being paid from 2.2-2.5 Million, Nico’s team wanted his deal increased to the 4… pic.twitter.com/BHfcctxMSH

— College Football Report (@CFBRep) April 11, 2025

College Football as we know it is dead. This is the future unless something is done.

time will run out on this nonsense. these players are going to demand more and more money every year, and there are only so many big money donors

Tenn can say "No."

What'll happen is that programs will start implode and go away one by one because fans/alumni will no longer pay to go to a game or financially support college athletic programs. Once that starts, and really gets going, there'll be fewer "collegiate" teams for these yutes and their ignorant advisors to play at......increasing the likelihood that 75% or more of the high school ballers who might make a D-I team today will never see a college football field in the future. Eliminating any chance they may have had earning a single dollar, or having a shot at a career in football. So, most will end up working minimum wage job as a career, increasing crime and the poverty population in America.

Nice work kids.....you've ruined your own future. And the future of America.

Greed and ignorance is a cancer.

Ha! And the NCAA still thinks it can have it both ways: paid professionals on a team with student-athletes.

Mitch Blood Green said:

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Tenn can say "No."

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And they did:

Breaking: Tennessee is moving on from starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava. Tennessee coach Josh Heupel informed the team of the decision at a team meeting. Iamaleava missed meetings and practice on Friday, which was the driver of this decision, sources told @PeteThamel. pic.twitter.com/onxbkJKNJV

— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) April 12, 2025

Sources: Tennessee is moving on from starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava. Tennessee coach Josh Heupel informed the team of the decision at a team meeting this morning. Iamaleava missed meetings and practice on Friday, which was the driver of this decision. pic.twitter.com/BsdhJMDXiz

— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) April 12, 2025

Some sucker of a college will pay him what he wants. But it would be utterly hilarious if he didn't find a new home. This **** needs fixed and fast.

Bear8084 said:

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Mitch Blood Green said:

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Tenn can say "No."

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And they did:

Breaking: Tennessee is moving on from starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava. Tennessee coach Josh Heupel informed the team of the decision at a team meeting. Iamaleava missed meetings and practice on Friday, which was the driver of this decision, sources told @PeteThamel. pic.twitter.com/onxbkJKNJV

— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) April 12, 2025

Sources: Tennessee is moving on from starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava. Tennessee coach Josh Heupel informed the team of the decision at a team meeting this morning. Iamaleava missed meetings and practice on Friday, which was the driver of this decision. pic.twitter.com/BsdhJMDXiz

— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) April 12, 2025

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Good. Some people overplay their hand.

IowaBear said:

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Some sucker of a college will pay him what he wants. But it would be utterly hilarious if he didn't find a new home. This **** needs fixed and fast.

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Maybe. I wouldn't.

I was on a project with a guy who pulled this on go live day. He was out. I don't want people like this on my team.

I'm cool with the cat wanting $4 M. Negotiate it but don't hold out.

I wouldn't either. But some desperate beta school will give him what he wants.

Dear ADs, collusion is illegal. I also understand that it is very hard to prove.

This late in the portal he's going to be lucky to get what he was making. I watched every Tennessee game last year. They went as far as their defense took them. Heupel abandoned tempo because Nico never found his rhythm throwing and at least they could run it and rest the defense. Very high ceiling but he didn't come close to hitting it.

If I'm Nico I might be firing my agent unless he can get someone like UNC to pony up the money he promised he could get me.

Well played by Tennessee. They didn't budge and they shouldn't have

Cool. The more players try greedy stuff like this, the more momentum for change builds up in the opposite direction

That's honestly insane that he was being paid over 2 million a year. Cam Ward got paid 2 million by Miami last year, and he was more of a known commodity.

Nico Iamaleava threw for 104 yards on 31 pass attempts vs Ohio state in a blowout playoff loss and he’s acting like he’s Peyton manning lmao https://t.co/iAZqnQwLHX

— John (@iam_johnw) April 11, 2025

IowaBear said:

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I wouldn't either. But some desperate beta school will give him what he wants.

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I bet he sits this year. He can only sour your lockeroom unless your starter and backup get hurt in spring.

Wonder how these contracts are constructed? Wonder if Tennessee had to pay any of the original 2.4 million contract?

WOW… Reports surfacing that Dan Lanning was coach who initially contacted Tennessee HC Josh Heupel and let him know Nico was sniffing around for a deal 👀

Dan Lanning respect 📈 pic.twitter.com/qHeDpoqFrl

— UGA Football (@UGARecruiting20) April 12, 2025

That's desperately needed… but hard to picture a governing body taking control anytime soon.

Maybe if the P2 splits they can create some sensible rules for themselves.

NIL and the XFR portal did not ruin College Football...The pathetic and inept NCAA not enforcing rules is threatening to ruin College Football...So, we need a governing body to step in and enforce mutually agreed upon rules...it is really that simple

— Joel Klatt (@joelklatt) April 12, 2025

boykin_spaniel said:

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This late in the portal he's going to be lucky to get what he was making. I watched every Tennessee game last year. They went as far as their defense took them. Heupel abandoned tempo because Nico never found his rhythm throwing and at least they could run it and rest the defense. Very high ceiling but he didn't come close to hitting it.

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Agree, and they have great people coming in. They should still be set at quarterback as long as this isn't an annual occurrence.

Tennessee’s decision will have major ramifications on the future of holdouts and negotiations. It’s one of the first public moments where a team has decided, thanks but no thanks. A bluff was called.

Credit to Josh Heupel. Set the tone that no one is bigger than the team.

— Shehan Jeyarajah (@ShehanJeyarajah) April 12, 2025

If you are going to blame anyone about the Tennessee situation, start with the NCAA, which spent millions to stop athletes from making money off video games instead of creating a new economic model 20 years ago. We all knew this was coming. The failure to adapt led to this chaos.

— Myron Medcalf (@MedcalfByESPN) April 12, 2025

Mitch Blood Green said:

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Bear8084 said:

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Mitch Blood Green said:

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Tenn can say "No."

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And they did:

Breaking: Tennessee is moving on from starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava. Tennessee coach Josh Heupel informed the team of the decision at a team meeting. Iamaleava missed meetings and practice on Friday, which was the driver of this decision, sources told @PeteThamel. pic.twitter.com/onxbkJKNJV

— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) April 12, 2025

Sources: Tennessee is moving on from starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava. Tennessee coach Josh Heupel informed the team of the decision at a team meeting this morning. Iamaleava missed meetings and practice on Friday, which was the driver of this decision. pic.twitter.com/BsdhJMDXiz

— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) April 12, 2025

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Good. Some people overplay their hand.

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It just takes a collection of schools to stand up to this insanity and players will start to get in line. I hope this guy can't find another school. He just showed the NFL what his character is like....good luck.

boognish_bear said:

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If you are going to blame anyone about the Tennessee situation, start with the NCAA, which spent millions to stop athletes from making money off video games instead of creating a new economic model 20 years ago. We all knew this was coming. The failure to adapt led to this chaos.

— Myron Medcalf (@MedcalfByESPN) April 12, 2025

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Wrong. The kid was greedy and took a risk and look what happen....no different than people taking other jobs for more money and realizing it was the wrong move...

Guess there is a chance we may see this dude in conference next year

Per sources: Nico Iamaleava has been in contact with 3 schools that have agreed to construct a deal if he left Tennessee.

Oregon, Ohio State and Colorado are the top 3 for Nico right now as he cannot transfer to another SEC school in the spring per conference guidelines. pic.twitter.com/BX8ppWXqtW

— Richard G. West (@RGW_News) April 11, 2025

On this front, source tells me Texas Tech is not involved with Nico, either.

With returning starter Behren Morton back healthy, Texas Tech is not in the market for a starting quarterback. https://t.co/nJxx3pFtUN

— Zach Barnett (@zach_barnett) April 12, 2025

If Beck is worth $4 million and Mateer is worth $3 million to transfer then the market for Nico Iamaleava will be much bigger than $2 million he was getting at Tennessee.

Tons of recent No. 1 QBs transferred. Nico put up similar stats to Caleb Williams at OU.

He will be fine.

— Adam Gorney (@adamgorney) April 12, 2025

boognish_bear said:

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If you are going to blame anyone about the Tennessee situation, start with the NCAA, which spent millions to stop athletes from making money off video games instead of creating a new economic model 20 years ago. We all knew this was coming. The failure to adapt led to this chaos.

— Myron Medcalf (@MedcalfByESPN) April 12, 2025

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I can't stand the NCAA, but I would absolutely take a job with them if offered. You get paid big bucks to do absolutely nothing. Even better than a government job.

IowaBear said:

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Some sucker of a college will pay him what he wants. But it would be utterly hilarious if he didn't find a new home. This **** needs fixed and fast.

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Sadly you are right. A college will pay him just to get him and hope they immediately improve.

Even the UNLV QB that quit middle of the season found a new school. And he wasn't any where close to the same skill level as this guy.

boognish_bear said:

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That's desperately needed… but hard to picture a governing body taking control anytime soon.

Maybe if the P2 splits they can create some sensible rules for themselves.

NIL and the XFR portal did not ruin College Football...The pathetic and inept NCAA not enforcing rules is threatening to ruin College Football...So, we need a governing body to step in and enforce mutually agreed upon rules...it is really that simple

— Joel Klatt (@joelklatt) April 12, 2025

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Talking heads like this always want to blame someone else other than the people with the money.

The NCAA was castrated by the schools, courts, and media for years. And they wonder why the NCAA no longer puts their foot down on an issue. They can't or else face more litigation.

The NCAA is the schools. If they wanted to fix it, they would. But the schools prefer that the rich get richer more than fair competition.

Isn't Livingstone a big shot with the ncaa?

If your going to have holdouts in college football then there should be trades too. Sorry Nico enjoy West Point maybe learn some leadership

— PFT Commenter (@PFTCommenter) April 12, 2025

College football a joke now! Yall minds well just make college into a semi pro league! Actually hold players accountable to the contracts they sign! https://t.co/9gmrCOlZgi

— Micah Parsons (@MicahhParsons11) April 11, 2025