Nico Iamaleava's Struggles Continue as UCLA Falls to New Mexico
Former Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Nico Iamaleava is now 0-3 as UCLA's starter after a 35-10 loss to New Mexico at the Rose Bowl on September 12. The loss marks the Lobos' first victory against a power-conference team since 2008.
Performance Against New Mexico
Iamaleava completed 22 of 34 passes for 217 yards with one touchdown and one interception. The interception came in the fourth quarter, marking the second consecutive game where he has thrown a late-game interception. He also rushed six times for 33 yards. UCLA paid New Mexico $1.2 million for the game.
Looking Back at Iamaleava's 2025 Season Stats
Through three games in 2025, Iamaleava is 62-for-97 passing for 608 yards with three touchdowns and three interceptions. His debut for UCLA was a 43-10 loss to Utah, where he threw for 136 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. He played better in a 30-23 loss to UNLV, throwing for 255 yards, a touchdown, and an interception that ended UCLA's comeback bid, and rushing for 59 yards including a 30-yard touchdown.
Iamaleava's Time at Tennessee
Before transferring to UCLA, Iamaleava spent two seasons with Tennessee football, appearing in 18 games with 14 starts. In 2024, he started all 13 games during Tennessee's College Football Playoff run. He threw for 2,616 yards with 19 touchdowns and five interceptions in 2024, with slightly less efficient play in SEC games.
The Split Between Iamaleava and Tennessee
Tennessee coach Josh Heupel announced Iamaleava's departure from the program prior to the spring game, reportedly due to an NIL dispute. Reports indicate that Iamaleava's representatives sought an increase in his NIL pay to $4 million per year, leveraging the possibility of entering the transfer portal. He officially entered the portal on April 16 and subsequently transferred to UCLA.
Criticism and Scrutiny Following Transfer
Following UCLA's struggles, analysts like Fox Sports' Aaron Torres and Clay Travis have criticized Iamaleava's decision to leave Tennessee. The scrutiny stems from the reported financial demands and the perceived drop in performance since the transfer. Torres mocked Iamaleava's reported $2 million NIL deal at UCLA, nearly half of what he could have potentially earned in Knoxville.