Nico Iamaleava validates long-standing rumors regarding the Tennessee Vols’ College Football Playoff loss to the Ohio State Buckeyes.

Nico Iamaleava, the former Tennessee quarterback, recently shattered a wall of rumors surrounding the Volunteers’ crushing 42‑17 playoff defeat to Ohio State by publicly confirming long‑whispered suspicions. In late April, amid his portal exit from Tennessee and nationally reported NIL negotiations, Iamaleava unleashed a sarcastic Instagram story: he mocked an online claim that he “tried to sit out and throw the playoff game too,” captioning it with laughing emojis and calling those rumors absurd . His post made clear he found the accusation that he intentionally underperformed or drilled up to tank the game not just false, but ridiculous.

Days later, major outlets like the New York Post reported Iamaleava had publicly dismissed the accusation that he intentionally sabotaged Tennessee’s CFP appearance by throwing the game . He set the record straight: he played the game, he didn’t quit, he didn’t tank the performance intentionally. His reaction followed his high-profile transfer announcement, which occurred amid failed attempts to renegotiate his NIL contract with Tennessee. The narrative had grown complicated: critics claimed he prioritized money over team loyalty  but Iamaleava’s retort made one thing clear: he never quietly took a knee for Ohio State.

Notably, The Athletic’s update on this situation described it as more than just a paycheck story. These rumors had circulated online  some claiming he planned to sit the Ohio State game, others saying he threw it. Iamaleava’s Instagram story grouped them together with humor and sarcasm, proving he knew these rumors inside and out and dismissed them .

Context matters: Tennessee’s 2024 season ended in Columbus with their first-ever CFP loss, and Iamaleava’s stat line 14 completions on 31 attempts for 104 yards, two rushing touchdowns, and no passing scores  was underwhelming for a quarterback who had thrown for 2,616 yards and 19 touchdowns over the season . The Volunteers’ game film showed multiple sacks, minimal passing production, and limited opportunities for big plays. Social media rumors amplified these struggles into conspiracy  some suggested a playoff holdout born from NIL negotiations rather than performance struggles.

One widely circulated rumor came from college football pundit Josh Pate, who suggested Nico “almost held out of playoff games because they were trying to renegotiate contracts in the middle of the playoff run” . For months, that rumor hung over Iamaleava’s season, coloring perceptions of his competitive nature and loyalty. While Tennessee moved on during spring practice after his absence and increasing NIL tensions, fans and media debated whether the Vols’ playoff stumble had a deeper internal cause .

Then came Big Ten Media Days, where Iamaleava spoke as a UCLA quarterback in his home state. He reiterated that his transfer was motivated by family and cultural considerations  not money and reaffirmed he was “just here for ball and school” . That focus added context: the rumors weren’t rooted in performance or strategic protest  they were a distortion of negotiations, frustration, and youthful ambition misread as betrayal.

Iamaleava’s decision to publicly mock or debunk the “sit out and throw the playoff game” rumors validated what many inside Tennessee and among Vols fans had long suspected: that the performance decline was due to talent mismatch, pressure, or execution—not a scripted tank job. By reclaiming the narrative, Iamaleava reinforced that he competed earnestly, even when his team fell short.

His tweet also offered insight into how rumors evolve: “These boys just make me laugh man ain’t no way,” he wrote, suggesting that falsehoods had a grip on fans and pundits alike  even those close to the program . His attitude was part dismissive, part defiant and entirely clear: he would not let baseless claims rewrite his legacy without pushback.

The validation of that suspicion carries wider importance for Tennessee football. It reminds fans and recruits that the program doesn’t bend  even when headlines swirl  and that former players still feel ownership over truth. Tennessee coach Josh Heupel, while sad to see Nico depart, emphasized a team-first mentality after the playoffs. Fresh QBs like Joey Aguilar and George MacIntyre moved into the spotlight amid the Vols’ next chapter .

In the end, Iamaleava’s social media posts delivered closure. He cleared his name  not with press releases, but with humor and sincerity. That’s how he validated the long-simmering suspicion: he never tried to sabotage Tennessee’s playoff run, he played through adversity, and he sought a fresh start  not revenge.

His future at UCLA  and the optics of that move  will carry more scrutiny. But the rumors tied to that Ohio State defeat no longer define him. Instead, they’re part of a cautionary tale about youth, NIL, and rumor vs. reality in modern college football.