Nico Iamaleava and the Tennessee Volunteers were on fire today! Not only did the quarterback shine, but he also brought his running back, Dylan Sampson, into the spotlight. Sampson capped off a thrilling 91-yard drive with a powerful 7-yard touchdown run, pushing defenders into the end zone. With this score, the Vols extended their lead and secured their 7th win of the season. It was a dominant performance from Tennessee, and Iamaleava and Sampson were undoubtedly the stars of the show.

In his best performance to date, Iamaleava completed 28 of 38 throws for 292 yards and 1 touchdown today against fierce competition. Tennessee eventually defeated the Kentucky Wildcats 28-18 as a result. Fans of the Vols were ecstatic to witness Dylan Sampson and Nico Iamaleava’s incredible performance. They used social media to share their joy. “Nico jumped into the scrum, too. 🍊🍊🏈,” a fan wrote.

However, Nico’s performance today pleased not just the supporters but also the head coach. “It was close on some deep balls down the football field. Close, man. I thought he saw things really well. So all in all, really, really good command presence from him throughout the course of the night,” Josh Heupel said in the press conference following the game. On top of this, he added, “I thought he played with great confidence, great poise.” While the entire team exuded confidence on the field, the quarterback has shed light on his own mindset.

“I feel confident in every throw. Any throw out there, I think I got the most confidence in my receivers to go make that play, my tight ends to go make that play, for sure,” Nico Iamaleava stated. It appears that the quarterback gives the team credit. And Nico’s little shove made a big impact, as fans oozed their love for him.

Overjoyed Vols fans on Nico Iamaleava’s insistence

Since joining the Tennessee squad, Iamaleava has drawn attention due to his athletic ability and talent. Back on October 13, the Vols defeated the Gators 23–17, and Volvs’ QB Nico Iamaleava was taking in all the attention. His stellar performances against Florida and Kentucky have solidified his status as a rising star. “Love nico joining in on the group push too” was a fan’s response after Nico’s performance, particularly the push, skyrocketed. The remark “Nico getting in to push was chefs kiss 🫡” was made by another admirer.

Fans were quick to notice Nico’s strong leadership, both on and off the field. During the post-game conference, he made sure to credit the entire team for their efforts. His ability to guide and adapt under pressure has drawn comparisons to other standout young quarterbacks. Nico’s game-winning drive has put the Vols at an impressive 7-1 record this season.

One fan summed it up perfectly, saying, “So poetic having the team push him into the endzone. A metaphor to our dynamic this season.” Another enthusiastically added, “Nico even pushed! TD Big Orange!” The energy around this QB-RB combo has been electric, reminding fans of the 1997 Tennessee duo of Peyton Manning and Jamal Lewis. The play that captured everyone’s attention was Nico’s push to help his running back cross the goal line—a move that hasn’t been seen since the Manning-Lewis era. Fans couldn’t contain their excitement, with one calling it a “full rugby scrum touchdown for Tennessee,” showcasing Nico’s standout moment.

The question now is whether the Vols can keep the momentum going and give their fans more moments like this in the future. The excitement in Knoxville is real, and the best may be yet to come.