As the saying goes, one team’s loss is another’s gain.
Pete Nakos of On3 reported Thursday that Tennessee and star quarterback are currently in contract negotiations. This could potentially lead to Iamaleava entering the transfer portal when it reopens for the spring on Wednesday.
Such a move would be a major setback for Josh Heupel’s Volunteers in the offseason and could dramatically shift the SEC landscape ahead of the upcoming college football season.
Iamaleava, who had an impressive freshman season, threw for 2,616 yards and 19 touchdowns with only five interceptions. He also contributed on the ground, rushing for 358 yards and three touchdowns. In his first road start at Oklahoma last season, Iamaleava threw for 194 yards and a touchdown, leading Tennessee to a 25-15 victory in OU’s inaugural SEC game.
Despite having a freshman quarterback, Tennessee finished the season 10-3 and made the College Football Playoff as the No. 6 team, where they lost to eventual national champion Ohio State.
If Iamaleava stays, Tennessee could continue to be a formidable force in the SEC and a tough challenge for the Sooners. However, with star running back Dylan Sampson already declaring for the NFL, replacing Iamaleava at quarterback could be too difficult for the Volunteers to overcome.
The Sooners are set to visit Knoxville on Nov. 1, and if Iamaleava does transfer, LSU would be the only SEC team on OU’s schedule that doesn’t have a new quarterback. That includes former OU quarterback Jackson Arnold, who will now play for Auburn in the Sooners’ SEC opener.
Meanwhile, Oklahoma has a new quarterback of their own in Washington State transfer John Mateer, who was the top player in the transfer portal when he committed to OU. Expectations are high for him in the 2025 season.
While the Sooners would prefer to face tough competition, anything that makes the SEC schedule a bit easier after last season’s 6-7 record would be gladly welcomed.
