Quarterback Nico Iamaleava’s move from Tennessee to UCLA highlights just how the transfer portal has reshaped the college football landscape — and how timing, money, and expectations can collide. After seeking a substantial increase in his Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) compensation (originally earning about $2.4 million, reportedly seeking $4 million), Iamaleava’s negotiations with Tennessee stalled. He missed practices and team meetings, prompting the coaching staff to move forward without him.  Once the spring portal window opened, Iamaleava officially committed to UCLA — a decision influenced both by his California roots and by opportunity, though the NIL deal at UCLA landed him far below what he had sought at Tennessee. The move has stirred debate over whether the drive to maximize compensation is helping or hurting young athletes — and how programs navigate these high‑stakes negotiations.