So, everyone’s been guessing where Nico Iamaleava would land after that messy breakup with Tennessee? Turns out, the wait’s over. That’s right. After a wild episode of NIL negotiation, portal drama, and speculation, the former Vols QB is packing his bags for Westwood. And hey, we thought it was about the money, right? But turns out, it’s apparently not the case. 

As the dust settles around Nico Iamaleava’s wild portal jump, a new wave of intel is stirring up the hot pot and raising eyebrows across college football. Colin Cowherd dropped the scoop on X. “I am told — moments ago — Nico Iamaleava is going to UCLA,” he posted. “Family still claims it’s NOT about the 💰. It’s about the @Vol_Football offense. I was not told what the Bruins are paying.” Yes, his camp still claims it’s not about the dough. But if that’s true, the timeline doesn’t seem to be adding up, and their reasoning sounds more like an excuse than a strategy. 

As On3’s Andy Staples called out, Josh Heupel‘s offense in Knoxville didn’t magically change overnight. Everyone in December knew he was staying put, and the offense wasn’t about to change. Yet, Nico Iamaleava waited till April to make the move so he could learn under “an OC whose next playcall will be his first. Because it’s about the offense.”

Following his tweet on April 16, Staples added —  “And by the way, I’m excited to see Tino Sunseri as an OC. He did a great job with Cignetti’s QBs. (And he was fun to watch at Pitt.) But they’re insulting everyone’s intelligence saying it’s about the offense.” Now that stings. Everyone already knows that the failed NIL negotiation is the root that led to this transfer chaos. But the family’s reasoning raises question marks. Nico’s father, Nicholaus Iamaleava, already has bad blood with a former Tennessee walk-on OC, Clay Keaton, who threw shade at his son’s performance against Alabama last October. Is it a grudge?

Coming to UCLA, the program is likely to undergo a major offensive change under Tino Sunseri. He might not be a household name in the play-calling world. But this new OC and QBs coach can bring things to the table. At Indiana, he was a QBs coach and a co-OC. He helped transform the Hoosiers’ offense — jumping over 100 YPG from 2023-2024. They averaged 41.3 PPG, ranking second in the nation in scoring offense. Curt Cignetti‘s team secured 11 wins — a program record and even made a CFP appearance. 

Under his guidance, Hoosiers QB Kurtis Rourke finished with 69.4% of his passes for 3,042 yards, 29 TDs, and just five picks. So yeah, he may be a rookie OC on paper, but being a former QB himself, he knows the game. If Nico Iamaleava’s looking for someone who gets QBs and knows how to build a system around their strengths, he may have found the right guy in Tino Sunseri. And if his family’s claims are true, if the QB’s seeking a change in the offense in a high-profile city like LA, it makes sense. But yeah, there’s still that money talk. 

Is Nico Iamaleava getting the $4M at UCLA?

We all heard the whispers — $4 million NIL demand, right? But turns out things aren’t about to fall in favor of Nico Iamaleava, who already has an NIL valuation of $3.1 million. As Pete Nakos reported via On3 — “Reported earlier today for @On3sports that Nico’s deal will be under $4 million, especially without a competitive marketplace. Continues to trend that way.” Well, schools like North Carolina and Tulane have cooled off, and that takes the leverage out of Nico’s hands. 

There’s also this family business that gives UCLA an upper edge in this negotiation. On signing day, Nico’s younger brother, Madden Iamaleava, a 4-star QB, flipped from the Bruins to Arkansas. Still, Nico is quite interested in the school — “UCLA was a great fit because it was close to home and we love the staff there.”

So, yes, Nico Iamaleava’s case isn’t the fairytale people expected. But who knows, it might just be the move that lets him cook.