Tennessee’s $4 million athlete, Nico Iamaleava, has set a new example, not in favor of the coaches or higher-ups. He has taken steps to enter the transfer portal, officially sending the necessary paperwork to the Vols. Looking to renegotiate his NIL deal, Iamaleava skipped practice and meetings on Friday, sparking concerns. But while his father refuted a recent story from On3, tensions are still high within the Vols program. As of now, frustration is growing over the attempt to alter what is already one of the most expensive NIL contracts in CFB, signed in 2023. Right now, there’s only one thing the coaches across the CFB realm can do – detest such sudden changes. However, not everyone thinks bad of Iamaleava’s move.

With the rise of the portal and NIL, CFB is in a whole new world. On Saturday, LSU head coach Brian Kelly weighed in on the growing trend. “I think that we’re going to see a lot of this, you know, this is a new world and I think we’re going to navigate it the best that we can, but I think that there’s going to be other situations that come,” stated Kelly. So, it’s clear: this shift is just the beginning of a new chapter in CFB. But according to a national analyst, this shift and the condemnation around it might just be overhyped.

On the April 13 episode of The Number One CFB Show, RJ Young weighed in on Iamaleava’s NIL negotiations. “You get the overvaluation of your own self here. Okay, you haven’t looked at what you were able to do and given yourself an honest evaluation. 2,600 yards, 19 TDs—it’s just not, it’s not 3,800, it’s not 3,540.” So, his words hit hard, questioning whether expectations have truly aligned with reality.

Look, here, the hype around Nico Iamaleava mirrors the noise around Shedeur Sanders. In 2024, Sanders threw for 4,134 yards and 13 TDs, yet he still faced constant scrutiny. RJ Young pointed out best, saying, “If this was Shedeur Sanders, he would be crucified, same way that people are crucifying Nico Iamaleava. The same way in which some people will still talk about Shedeur on the record and what he can or can’t do.” So, the pressure and criticism are a constant in the spotlight, regardless of performance.

But here’s the kicker: RJ Young praised Dan Lanning for shutting down all the Tennessee QB Nico Iamaleava hype. And Young explained, stating, “Dan Lanning did not even want to broach the subject of Nico Iamaleava at Oregon. This news came from Pete Thamel at ESPN, who said, ‘Hey, his people reached out to Oregon.’ Oregon said, ‘Well, we cool on that, we straight.’ So they brought that to Dan Lanning today at their spring game, and the man declined to comment.” As of now, while Lanning’s silence spoke volumes—he’s not here for the drama.

It looks like Dan Lanning’s not afraid of anything or anyone, alright? RJ Young made it clear, stating, “He just did not want to deal with that mess over there.” However, Lanning’s not bothered by the SEC drama, either. When asked about it, he simply said, “Nah, I’m good, I’m straight, we at Oregon, and we’re in a good spot with Dante Moore and Austin Novosad. We’re good, we’re great,” according to the national analyst. So, Lanning’s keeping his eyes on the prize, staying focused on his program with no distractions.

But not all CFB coaches are ignoring the Nico  Iamaleava situation. Here, Mario Cristobal, for one, sent a clear warning to his Miami players after the drama.

Mario Cristobal’s perspective on the Tennessee QB situation

One CFB fan isn’t holding back when it comes to the $4 million quarterback’s exit from Tennessee. Look, after a tense NIL standoff, the former five-star is now portal-bound this spring. And his move didn’t just shake up the Vols—it lit a firestorm of debate across the college football world.

Here, Miami HC Mario Cristobal didn’t mince words when asked about the recent NIL drama swirling around CFB. His stance? Crystal clear. He said, “We’re not gonna do that at Miami.” However, he didn’t stop there. “And I say that without any hesitation. If anyone’s thinking that—and they could be the best player in the world—if they wanna play holdout, they might as well play get out. We don’t wanna do that. We don’t want Miami to become that.” Honestly, there is no hesitation, no gray area; Cristobal is drawing the line.

However, Coach Cristobal continued to double down on his message, showing pride in the culture he’s building at Miami. His words were raw, real, and full of conviction. “Too many guys have sweat, bled, and have laid on the line in that field to ever become that kind of a program,” said Cristobal. So, for him, it’s not just about talent—it’s about toughness, sacrifice, and respect for The U.

However, in the aftermath of Iamaleava’s dramatic exit, Tennessee wasted no time turning the page. Here, Josh Heupel stood firm, refusing to bend to NIL pressure—and made a powerful statement in the process. “I said it to the guys today, there’s no one that’s bigger than the Power T. And that includes me,” according to the Vols HC. To be honest, it’s a bold message, setting the tone for a no-nonsense culture in Knoxville.