Quarterback Nico Iamaleava will get another bite of the transfer portal after UCLA fired its head coach. Where should the enigmatic passer land? Although the transfer portal is not open to the masses, one provision allows for entry into the gateway. When a school relieves a coach of their coaching duties, the NCAA grants players an automatic entry. Now, with another opportunity, where will the sophomore land?
Teams That Could Welcome UCLA QB Nico Iamaleava if He Transfers
UCLA fired head coach DeShaun Foster after his second 0-3 start since 2019 to begin a season. With that, his former players can enter the transfer portal and not burn through eligibility. Iamaleava, after another season of hovering near a 64% completion rate, can leave town. Front Office Sports Amanda Christovich profiles how the quarterback got to this point.
Nico Iamaleava went from an $8M NIL deal playing on a College Football Playoff team in front of sold-out crowds to a $1.5M contract playing for an 0-3 program in a mostly-empty Rose Bowl.
The UCLA-Tennessee trade has been painful so far, writes @achristovichh ⬇️
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) September 15, 2025
The firing shakes up the team’s leadership and opens up the possibility of a roster overhaul. Once a coaching change occurs, players have 30 days to enter the transfer portal. Meanwhile, incoming recruits have already begun to decommit.
Vanderbilt
This choice would solely be for spite and pettiness on the quarterback’s behalf. Iamaleava could return to the SEC, serving as a foil for No. 15 Tennessee, his former school. Starter Diego Pavia is playing his last year in Nashville. As a result, a VA and a player who could move and throw would fit Clark Lea’s approach. One holdup is what kind of NIL money would Iamaleava ask for?
Texas
Arch Manning has not performed up to expectations. Since then, people have openly begun to question his place on the team. With the preseason pressure, many predicted the No. 8 Longhorns would win the national championship outright. Moving to Austin would be the toughest move of Iamaleava’s career. The fanbase, coach, teammates, alumni, and donors demand a stellar season.
West Virginia
While this one feels random, Iamaleava’s skill set fits what Rich Rodriguez wants to do. During his first stint in Morgantown, Rodriguez’s offense centered around an athletic passer named Pat White. Iamaleava is nowhere near the athlete White was, but he does present a high passer ceiling for an offense that loves movement and tempo.
Colorado
Deion Sanders’ team needs a quarterback. Neither Kaidon Salter nor Ryan Staub looks like the solution to a team that needs a quarterback to take control. However, Colorado possesses modest NIL resources.
That could turn Iamaleava away from Boulder. The pairing makes sense on the field and could give the Buffs the shot in the arm they need. Yet, this would potentially mean highly touted passer Julian Lewis could choose to leave with his immediate playing time seemingly dissipated.
Texas Tech
This would serve solely as a money issue. The Red Raiders, due to restructuring, can boast deep coffers for anyone No. 17 Texas Tech would like to bring in from the portal. Additionally, senior Behren Morton will leave next season, which is creating a need.
Iamaleava probably will not stay at UCLA, as their problems still exist without the head coach. Stuck in the competitive Big Ten, the Bruins would need a complete overhaul just to tread water in the conference. With an image to mend, on and off the field, provided he leaves, where should Iamaleava land?
