It’s hard to tell how the Tennessee fans would feel about the 2024 season, especially when it comes to Nico Iamaleava. In his first season as a starting college quarterback, he led the program to a 10-2 regular season and a first-ever appearance in the College Football Playoff. However, the rout by OSU in the first round served as a stark reminder of the gap as the Vols and Iamaleava were run over by the Buckeyes.

Ahead of the new season, Iamaleava’s decision to stay in Tennessee would come as a relief for some fans, but it also means a whole of expectations on him. Iamaleava will be expected to compete for the 2025 Heisman Trophy, barring injury or a complete flip of form, but it won’t be an easy task. One of his major rivals for the upcoming season will be Texas’ likely QB 1 Arch Manning and the recent Heisman odds suggest Iamaleava has some catching up to do.

LSU QB  Garrett Nussmeier leads the odds to win the Heisman next season, at +900, but he is closely followed by Longhorns’ Manning at +950. Manning has served as a backup QB behind Quinn Ewers for two years and is more than ready to take his chance this season. He has shone in the brief moments he got this season and is expected to take things up a notch. But what does it mean for Iamaleava?

The Vols QB is placed as the fifth favorite for the Heisman at +1100. Though his program’s schedule is slightly better than most teams, it will still be a challenge for him to be a standout candidate. Mike Bratton and Cousin Shane delved into an early 2025 SEC Heisman Trophy odds discussion on That SEC Football Podcast on January 22. They discussed all the names in contention and had interesting insights about Manning and Iamaleava.

Talking about Manning, Mike, “I think he could do it because there’s going to be incredible hype paired with Sarkisian. Even if he’s not like spectacular, he’s going to get some love. That makes all the sense in the world to me again.” But Mike also stressed, “I’m not betting on him until we actually see him. Again we have seen him start, but I’m not saying he can’t but that’s not where I’d put my money.”

Arch Manning appeared in 10 games this past season and started in two for 939 yards and nine touchdowns. He also earned 108 rushing yards and four rushing scores. But the highlight of his season was his performance against UTSA when he replaced an injured Ewers. 

Arch Manning threw for an astounding 223 yards and four touchdowns and an additional 67-yard rushing TD, breaking three records in one game. His 75+ yard TD pass, a 65-yard rushing TD, and a 50+ yard touchdown pass are records in both the FBS and NFL in 25 years. Playing for a program like Texas under an experienced coach in Steve Sarkisian bodes well for Manning, and don’t be surprised if he emerges for the Heisman when the 2025 season gets going. As for Iamaleava, he is already behind the pecking order as far as Heisman odds go and Shane labeled him as a risk bet.

“I mean that’s a that’s a risky that’s the thing. I don’t know,” Shane said but added that a helpful schedule might play in Vols and Iamaleava’s favor. “My first argument is a team that competes for a championship I feel like an opportunity to get back in the playoffs and by the time these votes have been submitted because they don’t wait till the end of the season, I feel like is a kind of a good situation. Because if you look at the schedule I mean Georgia, Bama, every other game, even Bama, s***t should be obtainable. Just the Georgia one is going to give you a fit, but yeah I could sit here in January 21st and say ‘Yeah I put I’ll put a little money on that.'”

When it comes to schedules both Manning and Iamaleava should feel right about the hand they have been dealt. Texas starts the season against defending champions OSU, but their life gets easier afterward. They face San José State, UTEP, Sam Houston, Florida, Oklahoma, Kentucky, Mississippi State, and Vanderbilt from Week 2 to 9, which could place them firmly in contention for the playoffs by the time they head to Georgia.

Tennessee, on the other hand, starts the season with a non-conference game against Syracuse. Games against Georgia in Week 3 and a visit to Alabama in Week 7 will be challenging while the penultimate game against Florida could be tricky. Thus, Iamaleava will be on the lookout to get a good start, which will be key to his Heisman chances and the team’s success.

Can Nico Iamaleava be an impactful SEC QB in 2025?

Tennessee had the 8th toughest schedule in 2024 per ESPN’s Football Power Index. But the Vols delivered upset losses to CFB powerhouses like Ohio State and Alabama in the regular season, which gives the 20-year-old redshirt freshman some credibility heading into the next season. 

But there is tons to improve before he can live that hype. In the 42-17 loss to Ohio State in the College Football Playoff, he had his moments but passed for a season-low 104 yards. He was pressured on each of his first seven pass plays and was sacked twice, missed on one pass, and had two passes batted down behind the line of scrimmage.

Notably, he didn’t complete his first pass until the 9:36 mark of the second quarter. This has led to some doubts about whether he can excel this season, when the spotlight will shine brighter on him. As Shane added, “Unless something just magically happens with that receiving core or Nico’s arm or coaching, I’m a little leery on that bet because this (team) has turned more into a running offense than quarterback offense.”

Nico Iamaleava recorded 2,616 passing yards and 19 touchdowns. But the Vols’ offensive success was also spearheaded by RB Dylan Sampson, who raked up 1,491 rushing yards and 22 touchdowns. He was named the SEC Offensive Player of the Year.

Based on the performances of various returning SEC quarterbacks this season, who do you think has the best odds to win the Heisman Trophy?