Every thing about the way in which Nico Iamaleava’s time at Tennessee ended and the way he wound up at UCLA was a large number. Truthfully, mess in all probability is not the easiest way to explain it, however all of the phrases that might higher describe the state of affairs are usually frowned upon in well mannered firm — so, we’ll follow mess.
It was a state of affairs that uncovered every thing fallacious with the present panorama of school soccer, the place calls for and {dollars} are rampant however rules and customary sense stay briefly provide.
I don’t know when that can not be the case. As a fan of the game, I hope that if something optimistic comes out of the whole state of affairs, it is that it serves as an impetus to get issues figured the freak (well mannered firm!) out.
However, additionally, as a fan of the game who typically simply needs to focus on soccer, can we discuss what Iamaleava leaving Tennessee for UCLA means for the Bruins? UCLA learn that final paragraph and thought, “I can consider one thing else optimistic that is come out of this: We have gone from a large shrug emoji at QB to being in one of many higher spots within the Large Ten.”
It is true. There is not any denying the Large Ten has had a robust few years; it is gained two nationwide titles and final 12 months received 4 groups into the primary 12-team School Soccer Playoff. What hasn’t been mentioned a lot but, although, is that whereas 2024 was a 12 months of transition for the league because it added 4 new colleges from the late Pac-12, the 2025 season is one in every of transition on the quarterback place within the league. As issues at present sit, solely six of the 18 colleges within the league have a returning starter within the league, and one in every of them — USC’s Jordan Maiava — solely began the latter portion of the 2024 season.
Three of the 4 Large Ten groups to make the CFP — Ohio State, Oregon and Indiana) can have a brand new beginning QB — and two of them have not even determined upon who that can be but.
Nico Iamaleava’s Tennessee saga wasn’t the professionalization of school sports activities—it was a practice wreck
Richard Johnson
Per week in the past, UCLA was one of many groups with no clear reply on the QB spot. Joey Aguilar had transferred in from Appalachian State and was thought-about the favourite to win the gig, nevertheless it was honest to surprise how he’d modify to life in a much more tough league than the Solar Belt. Now, the Bruins have Iamaleava, who could not have lived as much as the expectations in Knoxville (although Tennessee did attain the playoffs) however remains to be younger and very gifted. As for Aguilar, he is again within the switch portal.
Now that Nico is in Westwood, let’s break the convention down into tiers on the QB place because the league goes by means of this transitional interval.
Returning starter
Drew Allar, Penn State; Luke Altmyer, Illinois; Aidan Chiles, Michigan State; Athan Kaliakmanis, Rutgers; Jordan Maiava, USC; Dylan Raiola, Nebraska
As you possibly can see whereas studying by means of the checklist, not all returning starters are constructed the identical. Whereas Drew Allar has his faults and must carry out higher in opposition to elite competitors, Penn State feels fairly good about his return. The identical will be stated of Illinos’ Luke Altmyer, who’s making ready for his third season because the starter in Champaign, which is kind of the rarity nowadays.
Athan Kaliakmanis was not spectacular, however he was stable and definitely an improve for Rutgers final season. Maybe a “second-year bump” is in play. Nebraska actually hopes that is the case for Dylan Raiola, who confirmed loads of flashes final 12 months as a freshman but in addition appeared like a freshman at instances.
The actual fact USC hasn’t been lively within the portal this offseason is probably going a testomony to how the employees feels about Maiava, who changed Miller Moss as starter final season. In the meantime, in East Lansing, Michigan State followers are crossing their fingers Aidan Chiles can determine it out in his second season and minimize down on the errors.
New starter: Switch version
Billy Edwards, Wisconsin; Mark Gronowski, Iowa; Nico Iamaleava, UCLA; Fernando Mendoza, Indiana; Preston Stone, Northwestern
Here is an fascinating thought train. In case you had been to rank these transfers as more than likely to make an All-Large Ten Crew in 2025, what order would you set them in? All 5 enter conditions with query marks in regards to the weapons they need to work with, which is why I lean towards Nico due to his pure expertise.
That stated, Billy Edwards comes with Large Ten expertise as a Terp final 12 months, and Preston Stone will flip 24 in October. Mark Gronowski was excellent at South Dakota State and gained with the Jackrabbits. He’ll additionally flip 24 in October.
Lastly, Fernando Mendoza had a robust season with Cal final 12 months and is already getting some NFL Draft buzz ought to he proceed to develop in Bloomington.
How Nico Iamaleava’s switch from Tennessee to UCLA flips groups’ odds to win SEC, Large Ten championships
Shehan Jeyarajah
New starter: Non-transfer version
Drake Lindsey, Minnesota; Demond Williams, Washington
Guys who weren’t starters final season sticking round to inherit the beginning position? What is that this? 2014?
OK, so technically, Williams began Washington’s bowl recreation, nevertheless it was his solely begin final season, even when he did play 297 snaps total. There’s quite a lot of optimistic buzz about Williams coming from Seattle, and for good cause. He confirmed skill as a real dual-threat possibility when given the possibility, and never within the “take a look at him run, now let’s simply hope he can hit the broad aspect of a barn together with his passing.” Williams accomplished 78.1% of his cross makes an attempt final 12 months, averaging 9.0 yards per try.
As for Lindsey, I am proclaiming the 6-foot-5 redshirt freshman as Minnesota’s starter as a result of he is at present the one scholarship quarterback on the roster. I would anticipate that to vary with the switch portal at present open and guys searching for a chance, however contemplating Zach Pyron transferred to Minnesota over the winter solely to depart this spring, it actually appears to be like like Lindsey’s job to lose in the intervening time.
Excessive-profile QB battles
Mikey Keene/Bryce Underwood, Michigan; Dante Moore/Austin Novosad, Oregon; Julian Sayin/Lincoln Keinholz/Tavian St. Clair, Ohio State
My intestine tells me two of those aren’t precise QB battles, and the third in all probability is not, both. My perception is that Julian Sayin and Dante Moore would be the starters at Ohio State and Oregon, respectively, however for switch portal causes, it is in one of the best pursuits of Ryan Day and Dan Lanning to maintain the competitions open for so long as attainable. Each Sayin and Moore had been five-star prospects out of highschool, however Moore is the one one with expertise, showing in 9 video games with 213 cross makes an attempt as a freshman at UCLA in 2023. Sayin threw 12 passes final 12 months whereas preserving his redshirt with the Buckeyes.
Each will enter nice positions to be in: good groups filled with expertise.
Probably the most fascinating battle right here is at Michigan. Mikey Keene is the skilled switch possibility from Fresno State, and Bryce Underwood is the All-World Potential Tremendous Freak possibility. Underwood ended Michigan’s spring recreation with an 88-yard landing cross on a flea flicker to get the Wolverine devoted totally hyped, however I believe Keene will start the 12 months as starter (Michigan has an early season street journey to Oklahoma) with Underwood labored in slowly. If he takes the reins and balls out, that is drawback for Michigan to have.
Low-profile QB battles
Justyn Martin/Malik Washington, Maryland; Malachi Singleton/Evans Chuba/Bennett Meredith/Ryan Browne/You?, Purdue
It is ironic that the addition of Nico Iamaleava to UCLA’s QB room birthed this story on the Large Ten’s quarterbacks in 2025, and two of these attainable starters are transfers from UCLA. Possibly Joey Aguilar will switch to Minnesota and we’ll have three!
Anyway, all of the speak popping out of Maryland on Justyn Martin has been optimistic, however there are optimistic critiques of four-star freshman Malik Washington, too. I would put cash on Martin successful the gig heading into the autumn, however this seems to be a real-life competitors.
As for Purdue, who actually is aware of? The competitors was vast open to start out the offseason when Ryan Browne left for North Carolina, however now he is returning after the Tar Heels added Gio Lopez from South Alabama. There is not any strategy to know as of now who will take the primary snaps in opposition to Ball State, but when we had been doing a real rating of the convention’s beginning QBs this season, the winner of this competitors would maintain the 18th spot till confirmed in any other case.
