After the dust had finally settled from Tennessee’s 19-point opening win over Syracuse on Saturday afternoon in Atlanta, many Vol fans turned their eyes to the West Coast with the night winding down. As former RTI writer and current Outkick college sports reporter Trey Wallace pointed out on Saturday night, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see a decent amount of people from the state of Tennessee tuned into the UCLA vs Utah game on FOX.
Why? Because it was the debut of former Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava with the Bruins. A debut that came just a handful of hours after UT transfer quarterback Joey Aguilar led the Vols to a 45-26 win over Syracuse with three passing touchdowns and 247 yards through the air, including a 73-yard deep bomb to WR Braylon Staley in the first half.
Iamaleava’s debut didn’t go as well as Aguilar’s did. Iamaleava completed just 50% of his throws on 11-of-22 passing for 136 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. He did end up as the Bruins’ leading rusher with 47 yards on 13 carries.
With the game starting at 11 p.m. ET, it set the scene for many Tennessee fans to watch the beginning of the game to see first impressions. It didn’t take long for a Nico Iamaleava overthrow on a potential touchdown pass to send social media into a frenzy. It wasn’t just Tennessee fans, though; it was some UCLA fans, too.
More From RTI: Nico Iamaleava Struggles As Utah Routs UCLA in Season Opener
Here’s a look at some of the reactions from social media during Nico Iamaleava’s game on Saturday night in Los Angeles:
We’re all watching huh? Just a little bit…right? 👀
— Ramon Foster (@RamonFoster) August 31, 2025
I’m absolutely shocked. pic.twitter.com/ajJWkIIDG4
— Beau (@BeauSternCrock) August 31, 2025
Don’t know who needs to hear this,
But the last thing Nico Iamaleava needed to do was go into full read system.
He struggled to process in a “pick and stick” system.
— Brooks Austin (@BrooksAustinBA) August 31, 2025
Nico overthrows may kill me
— Barstool UCLA (@StoolWestwood) August 31, 2025
We won the trade
— Things Vol Fans Say (@ThingsVolsSay) August 31, 2025
It’s only one quarter in at the Rose Bowl, but there’s little doubt after what we’ve seen so far tonight, and what we saw today in Atlanta that Tennessee is the winner in the Joey-Nico swap!
— Bob Baskerville (@TheHoundBB) August 31, 2025
I think Tennessee won the Nico Iamaleava Trade pic.twitter.com/srRopmRtMj
— SleeperCFB (@SleeperCFB) August 31, 2025
he wanted more money… pic.twitter.com/brdwruLTBC
— Punchy (@BigOrangePunch) August 31, 2025
Some things never change pic.twitter.com/6Errnjfxv4
— gmannVOLS (@gmannVOLS) August 31, 2025
I thought winning 9 games with Joe Milton was Josh Heupel’s best accomplishment here but in reality us making the playoffs with Nico was insane
— WildasaMink (@wildasamink_) August 31, 2025
NICO’S STATLINE WAS WHAT pic.twitter.com/SEGIV5Uk68
— Barstool SEC (@SECBarstool) August 31, 2025
I was told the system was the problem.
— Tucker Harlin (@TuckerHarlin) August 31, 2025
If Nico overthrows a receiver and nobody is there to see it, did it really happen? pic.twitter.com/KRZH3ZqS9k
— JARL 🅅 🄾 🄻GRUUF THE GREATER (@423VOL) August 31, 2025
“Honey go on to bed, I gotta stay up late to hate.”
— /r/ockytop subreddit (@ockytop) August 31, 2025
Nico Iamaleava is PICKED 👀
pic.twitter.com/iML9uqWO0E— SleeperCFB (@SleeperCFB) August 31, 2025
UCLA’s first two drives have literally been everything we would pull our hair out for last year.
— Brian Hunsucker (@Hunsucker4) August 31, 2025
NICO’S FIRST DEEP THROW IS OVERTHROWN 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
— NBAYOUNGVOL 🍊🧡 (@VOLBOYx) August 31, 2025
Nico Iamaleava overthrows a wide-open second-and-10 that would’ve been a big gain.
Feel like I’ve seen that before
— Trevor McGee (@TrevorMcGee12) August 31, 2025
can’t tackle
can’t block
can’t throw
can’t run
can’t fill the seatscan’t win.
— Barstool UCLA (@StoolWestwood) August 31, 2025
Let me tell you about Nico Iamaleava and his historic bag fumble pic.twitter.com/Z3JS4F08jV
— Jordan Dajani (@JordanDajani) August 31, 2025
Nico Iamaleava is easily the most overrated QB in the country. He’s overthrown so many wide open receivers tonight.
— David Lundberg (@SuperWahsum) August 31, 2025
Final stats on these two in week one.
Joey Aguilar: 16/28, 247 passing, 34 rushing, 3 TDs
Nico Iamaleava: 11/22, 136 passing, 47 rushing, 1 TD, 1 INT pic.twitter.com/gq2AAsYDho
— Caleb Sisk (@CalebSisk_) August 31, 2025
Really hate to pile on the guy but Tennessee’s former QB is missing wide open throws and making one read then breaking down.
Again.
You cannot build an offense like this. Truly hope he figures it out.
— Reed Carringer (@ReedCarringer) August 31, 2025
True or False: Joey Aguilar is a huge upgrade from Nico Iamaleava pic.twitter.com/XI0hzN8PHR
— BetMGM 🦁 (@BetMGM) August 30, 2025
There’s really people out there hate watching Nico Iamaleava right now. It’s me, I’m people.
— Chase (@IrishChase) August 31, 2025
Nico Iamaleava watching Joey Aguilar outperform him on week 1pic.twitter.com/FBLSqrSGsT
— Old Row Sports (@OldRowSports) August 30, 2025
As it stands, right now, @Utah_Football is the best tackling team I’ve seen this year. @UCLAFootball can’t break free! @Vol_Football knew Nico Iamaleava wasn’t worth the asking price.
I love college football!!!
— War Eagle Weekly (@WarEagleWkly) August 31, 2025
Nico Iamaleava was bank robbing Tennessee and almost pulled off the heist of the century he looks worse than last year😭😭
— Chrisimmons03 (@chrisimmons03) August 31, 2025
Nico sacked pic.twitter.com/cAxUcisAO9
— Punchy (@BigOrangePunch) August 31, 2025
For more on Nico Iamaleava’s opening game with UCLA, click here.
For more on the “cool, calm, collected” debut of Joey Aguilar with Tennessee, click here.
One Response
Saw the whole game! Nico embarrassed himself ! Making the same mistakes. He Panics , leaves the pocket and over throws his receivers . Utah got into his head . ThenThrows an interception. He thinks hes better then he is ! Glad he’s gone . Go Vols