Nico Iamaleava's next team? Hometown programs among favorites

Nico Iamaleava stunned the college football world -- and further rocked the Name, Image and Likeness landscape -- with his departure from Tennessee over the weekend.

Tennessee balked at Iamaleava's holdout for additional NIL money, and the former five-star recruit immediately became the biggest name on the market for the spring transfer window that opens Wednesday.

Whether Iamaleava can land the reported $4 million NIL deal he was seeking from the Volunteers remains to be seen. He cannot transfer and play immediately for an SEC team, which somewhat limits his options.

Some schools may also shy away from a player who sought to double his contract after just one season. But after leading the Vols to the College Football Playoff as a redshirt freshman, Iamaleava does figure to have several suitors, with one sportsbook creating odds for his next destination.

NICO IAMALEAVA NEXT TEAM ODDS*

UCLA (+200)

North Carolina (+250)

Southern California (+300)

Texas Tech (+500)

Colorado (+600)

Arizona State (+700)

Notre Dame (+900)

Maryland (+1100)

Oregon (+1200)

California (+1600)

Syracuse (+2000)

*Odds provided by an online sportsbook for entertainment purposes only.

UCLA

The Bruins immediately emerged as a likely destination, although 247Sports reported that the school may lack the funds to land Iamaleava. The Bruins signed former Appalachian State quarterback Joey Aguilar, but Iamaleava would provide a significant upgrade for coach DeShaun Foster.

It could also help significantly that Iamaleava is from Downey, Calif., southeast of downtown Los Angeles. At one point, his younger brother Madden, also a quarterback, was committed to UCLA before flipping his choice to Arkansas.

NORTH CAROLINA

The second-shortest odds belong to Bill Belichick's program. The Tar Heels currently project Max Johnson under center, although he is returning from a leg injury. UNC also has Purdue transfer Ryan Browne and freshman Bryce Baker, so it's already a crowded depth chart.

However, Belichick offers a staff laden with NFL coaches and the potential for Iamaleava to make an immediate impact in the ACC.

USC

The Trojans have a returning starter in former UNLV quarterback Jayden Maiava, who took over for Miller Moss late last season, and also have incoming freshman Husan Longstreet. But coach Lincoln Riley is a noted quarterback guru, and the Trojans also offer the lure of playing in Iamaleava's hometown after Riley also offered him out of high school.

Could Iamaleava follow in the footsteps of Caleb Williams, Kyler Murray, Baker Mayfield and Jalen Hurts to tutor under Riley's direction?

NOTRE DAME

The Irish have only the seventh-shortest odds but offers an intriguing potential landing spot. They did not dip into the earlier transfer portal to add an established veteran to replace Riley Leonard.

Coach Marcus Freeman is currently relying on Steve Angeli or CJ Carr to step up and win the job -- unless a big-time talent like Iamaleava is brought into the fold.

OREGON

Another longshot odds-wise is Oregon, but don't sleep on the Ducks. Coach Dan Lanning also recruited Iamaleava out of high school and has dipped into the transfer portal before for Dillon Gabriel and Bo Nix. The Ducks have former Bruins quarterback Dante Moore and Austin Novosad currently.

While Lanning declined to comment on Iamaleava over the weekend, it's known that he grew up as a big fan of former Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota. What's not known is how well Iamaleava could learn Oregon's complex offense ahead of the 2025 season.

--Field Level Media