• Loading stock data...
Monday, June 23, 2025

UCLA’s Joey Aguilar Transferring to Tennessee in Quarterback Swap

Joey Aguilar will reportedly earn around seven figures in NIL money—but that’s less than previous Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava.

Reinhold Matay-Imagn Images

On Sunday night, UCLA quarterback Joey Aguilar lost his starting spot to Nico Iamaleava, the embattled quarterback who shocked the college football world last week by announcing he would leave Tennessee.

But now Aguilar has found a new home—at Iamaleava’s old school. 

Aguilar has committed to transfer to Tennessee and will earn “around seven-figures” in NIL (name, image, and likeness) money to do it, a source told Front Office Sports Monday night. ESPN was first to report the news. That’s still less than Iamalaeava was scheduled to be paid this year by Tennessee (around $2.4 million, according to multiple reports).

Now, the two quarterbacks have switched places in what many in the industry are dubbing the first-ever college football “trade.” Unlike in the pros, however, this trade was coincidental, rather than a result of two programs or collectives negotiating directly with each other to swap quarterbacks, FOS has confirmed. Aguilar was likely not an option for Tennessee until Iamaleava decided to transfer to UCLA.

For Aguilar, it’s been a whirlwind offseason due to forces outside his control. He entered the transfer portal this past winter after his head coach at App State was fired (a common response for players). He landed at UCLA in January and participated in spring practices in Westwood—but his world was ultimately turned upside down after Nico Iamaleava’s relationship with Tennessee fell apart. 

For Iamaleava, the last two weeks have been an NIL horror story. Now he’s ended up at a less successful football program for less money—a situation many industry experts attributed to “bad representation.” 

Iamaleava has been known to have one of the highest NIL collective contracts in all of college football. But after the Vols got knocked out of the College Football Playoff this past year, his camp asked for a raise, a source previously told FOS. (Iamaleava’s camp denies that they asked for more money.) The collective made counteroffers, the source said, but nothing was agreed and Iamaleava’s camp was increasingly unresponsive. 

He decided to transfer after drama surrounding an On3 report that Iamaleava was renegotiating his NIL contract. Iamaleava subsequently skipped the Friday practice before the spring game, and the team decided they didn’t want him back anyway.

Within a week, rumors began to surface that UCLA was Iamaleava’s next option. He announced his commitment to UCLA Sunday afternoon for a deal rumored to be in the $1.5 million range. Meanwhile, his younger brother Madden, a freshman quarterback at Arkansas, will join him at UCLA, according to ESPN.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Jun 20, 2025; Orlando, Florida, USA; SL Benfica forward Evangelos Pavlidis (14) in action with Auckland City FC defender Christian Gray (4) during a group stage match of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup at Inter&Co Stadium.

Day Jobs, Weekly Stipends: Behind the Club World Cup’s Only Amateur Team

“We’ve never been in this for the financial reward.”

Colleges Are Raising Student Fees to Pay for Athlete Revenue-Sharing

Schools are preparing to pay student athletes up to $20.5 million annually.
Jul 7, 2023; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees third baseman Josh Donaldson (28) react after striking out during the fifth inning against the Chicago Cubs at Yankee Stadium.

Former Yankee Josh Donaldson Wins $222K in Lawsuit Against Landlord

Donaldson played the 2022 and 2023 seasons for the Yankees.
Mar 30, 2025; Austin, TX, USA; The team of Alex Marquez (73) of Spain and BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP celebrate as he comes in second place in the 2025 Grand Prix of the Americas at Circuit of The Americas.

European Watchdog Clears Liberty Media’s $5B MotoGP Buy

Liberty Media now owns both the motorcycle racing league and F1.

Featured Today

Mar 15, 2025; Fort Worth, TX, USA; UAB Blazers forward Yaxel Lendeborg (3) dribbles the ball upcourt against the North Texas Mean Green during the first half at Dickies Arena

NIL Is Shrinking the Pool of NBA Draft Entrants

Agents are now advising many players to stay in school.
Apr 24, 2025; Green Bay, WI, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions defensive end Abdul Carter on the red carpet before the 2025 NFL Draft at Lambeau Field
June 21, 2025

‘More Is More’: The Elite Luxury Jewelers Decking Out Athletes

Meet the elite group of luxury designers crafting the biggest statement pieces.
Dec 5, 2024; Miami, FL, USA; FIFA president Gianni Infantino presents the FIFA Club World Cup trophy during the Club Word Cup draw at Telemundo Studios.
June 15, 2025

Revamped Club World Cup Is FIFA’s Billion-Dollar Gamble

The revamped soccer event debuts amid controversy.
Jun 10, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; United States head coach Mauricio Pochettino stands during the anthem against the Switzerland during the first at Geodis Park
June 14, 2025

Gold Cup Is Complicated for USMNT—but U.S. Soccer Has Its Eyes on..

Uncertain tournament success isn’t fazing forward-looking U.S. soccer.
Dec 27, 2024; San Diego, CA, USA; The Washington State Cougars ban perform during the second half at the Holiday Bowl at Snapdragon Stadium. Mandatory Credit:

Pac-12 Announces CBS As ‘Anchor’ in New Media-Rights Deal

The league may announce expansion before finalizing the rest of the package.
June 19, 2025

Omaha Delivers Again: LSU, Coastal Carolina Set for CWS Showdown

LSU and Coastal Carolina begin their three-game series Saturday.
Wisconsin cornerback Xavier Lucas (6) is shown during the first quarter of their game against South Dakota Saturday, September 7 , 2024 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin.
June 20, 2025

Wisconsin Sues Miami for ‘Tampering’ With Football Transfer

Xavier Lucas signed NIL deals in Madison before transferring to Miami.
Sponsored

Game On: Portfolio Players Stories, Brought to You by E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

Ted Leonsis unpacks basketball’s global rise, media rights, and portfolio ownership.
Washington's Ben Gorsage, right, and Orland Park Sandburg's Mateo Ramiro-Garcia tangle at the start of the Class 3A state 800-meter run Saturday, May 31, 2025 at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston. Gorsage took third place, followed by Ramiro-Garcia in fourth.
June 19, 2025

Dozens of Olympic Sports Have Been Cut in Wake of House v...

Tennis, track and field, and swimming and diving appear heavily impacted.
Jun 16, 2025; Omaha, Neb, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks starting pitcher Gage Wood (14) celebrates completing a no hitter against the Murray State Racers at Charles Schwab Field.
June 17, 2025

College World Series Enters Cinderella Era

A series of upsets gives the fast-growing event a new look this year.
Jun 14, 2025; Omaha, Neb, USA; LSU Tigers starting pitcher Kade Anderson (32) pitches against the Arkansas Razorbacks during the seventh inning at Charles Schwab Field.
June 16, 2025

How College Athlete Buyouts Could Work in the Revenue-Sharing Era

The buyouts could put both players and schools at a disadvantage.
Texas' Sam Hurley watches the announcement of the competitors in the high jump at the 2023 NCAA outdoor track and field championships, June 9, 2023 at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin, Texas.
June 16, 2025

Revenue-Sharing Model Could Boost Programs in Football’s Shadow

“We’re not getting paid the millions of dollars that football is.”