Tennessee slapped a tire patch in the gaping hole in the rubber of its quarterback situation. UCLA’s disposable goods became the Vols’ prize.

Tennessee is expected to add transfer quarterback Joey Aguilar from UCLA, after the Vols lost starter Nico Iamaleava to none other than UCLA.

In other words, UCLA decided it would rather anoint Iamaleava as its starter than Aguilar, who transferred in December after two seasons starting for Appalachian State. That caused Aguilar to re-evaluate his options. The best opportunity available just so happened to be at Tennessee. He’ll compete with a pair of young in-house options for the starting job.

On today’s episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams assign the winners and losers of this whole saga, and they pinpoint where Vols coach Josh Heupel flawed in his execution. Iamaleava’s missteps were numerous and obvious, but Heupel’s handling of the situation was not flawless. They also identify the favorite in Tennessee’s starting quarterback competition.

Later in the episode, they examine Oklahoma’s case for being a College Football Playoff sleeper on the heels of the Sooners’ marquee transfer acquisitions.

Tennessee slapped a tire patch in the gaping hole in the rubber of its quarterback situation. UCLA&rsquo;s disposable goods became the Vols&rsquo; prize.
Tennessee is expected to <a href="https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/columnists/university-of-tennessee/john-adams/2025/04/22/tennessee-football-joey-aguilar-nico-iamaleava-transfer-josh-heupel/83205819007/" aria-label="Link add transfer quarterback Joey Aguilar from UCLA">add transfer quarterback Joey Aguilar from UCLA</a>, after the Vols lost starter Nico Iamaleava to none other than UCLA.
In other words, UCLA decided it would rather anoint Iamaleava as its starter than Aguilar, who transferred in December after two seasons starting for Appalachian State. That caused Aguilar to re-evaluate his options. The best opportunity available just so happened to be at Tennessee. He&rsquo;ll compete with a pair of young in-house options for the starting job.
On today&rsquo;s episode, hosts <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/staff/2648210001/blake-toppmeyer/" aria-label="Link Blake Toppmeyer">Blake Toppmeyer</a> and <a href="https://www.knoxnews.com/staff/2647548001/john-adams/" aria-label="Link John Adams">John Adams</a> assign the <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2025/04/22/tennessee-football-nico-iamaleava-ucla/83194796007/" aria-label="Link winners and losers of this whole saga">winners and losers of this whole saga</a>, and they pinpoint where Vols coach Josh Heupel flawed in his execution. Iamaleava&rsquo;s missteps were numerous and obvious, but Heupel&rsquo;s handling of the situation was not flawless. They also identify the favorite in Tennessee&rsquo;s starting quarterback competition.
Later in the episode, they examine Oklahoma&rsquo;s case for being a College Football Playoff sleeper on the heels of the Sooners&rsquo; marquee transfer acquisitions.

SEC Football Unfiltered features hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams of the USA TODAY Network serving opinion, debate and analysis on trending college football topics within the Southeastern Conference. No subject is off limits, and no one is above rebuke. Take off the filter and revel in the banter.

SEC Football Unfiltered features hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams of the USA TODAY Network serving opinion, debate and analysis on trending college football topics within the Southeastern Conference. No subject is off limits, and no one is above rebuke. Take off the filter and revel in the banter.

SEC Football Unfiltered

Declaring winners, losers in Tennessee-Nico Iamaleava breakup, and did Vols find starter in Joey Aguilar?

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