“QB Swap Spectacle: Tennessee and UCLA Execute First-Ever College Football Quarterback Trade!”

Oh man, what a wild ride we’ve Been on, ain’t it? Transfer portal drama swings right into our laps like the latest episode of some gripping drama series. This quarterback shuffle between UCLA and Tennessee? It’s enough to have you on the edge of your seat, popcorn in hand, ready to witness the next big “what-the!” moment in college football. But here’s a food for thought, as we zoom down the chaotic highway of college football’s transfer portal, reminiscent of NASCAR’S high-speed antics in that embedded video, are we witnessing the emergence of a new breed of college athletes, might as well name them THE TRADES? Reminiscent of NASCAR’s twists. I mean, it’s like watching a race where the lead changes hands faster than a pit stop.

So, in this high-octane world of college football transfers, we’ve witnessed the sort of player movement this offseason that would make even Danica Patrick do a double-take. The portal and NIL deals? They’re like rocket fuel, the teams, burning rubber, accelerating changes faster than thought possible. And Monday night? It was as if fans and media all collectively trailed off: “Did we just see a quarterback trade?” Heck yeah.

Now, before you go thinking we’re talking about actual player trades (which, ya know, don’t exist yet in college), let’s dive into this tête-à-tête between UCLA and Tennessee involving Joey Aguilar and Nico Iamaleava. The footnoted tweet from ESPN’s Chris Low spelling it out very clearly:

And here I was sat, fingers poised over the keyboard, thinking to myself, “This is not the Alabama-Tennesse rivalry most of us have come to know, but it’s sure a twist for the record books.”
And then there’s the heartfelt words from Nico Iamaleava, which hit you right in the feels, reminding us that behind every headline, every transfer, there’s a genuine human story of growth, struggle, and now a new beginning.

You’ve got to wonder, in this wild college football world, where will the next turn in the road lead? LEARN MORE.

We’ve seen a lot of crazy things in college football this offseason.

The transfer portal and NIL have opened up a whole new world for college programs. Roster movement is at an all-time high. On Monday night, college football fans and media are digesting a “quarterback trade” between UCLA and Tennessee.

No, this wasn’t an actual trade. You still can’t trade players at the college level–maybe someday though. But with UCLA quarterback Joey Aguilar transferring to Tennessee, it completes the QB exchange that took place when Nico Iamaleava, Tennessee’s 2024 starter, transferred to UCLA over the weekend.

ESPN’s Chris Low broke news of Aguilar’s decision Monday evening.

“The QB trade is complete. Joey Aguilar plans to sign with Tennessee after transferring to UCLA from App. State in the winter portal, sources tell ESPN,” Low tweeted. “He trades places with Nico Iamaleava, who transferred from Tennessee to UCLA in the current portal. Back to business as usual.”

Aguilar was App State’s starter each of the last two seasons. The Antioch, Calif. native threw for 6,760 yards, 56 touchdowns and 24 interceptions, including 33 TDs in 2023. 

Aguilar will be QB1 in Knoxville, and he was looking like UCLA’s likely starter, until Iamaleava shocked the college football world. The former five-star recruit held out of a spring practice session amid an NIL dispute with Tennessee, which led to both sides agreeing to part ways.

“To the amazing people in Knoxville, thank you for embracing and uplifting me throughout my time there,” Iamaleava said when announcing his commitment to UCLA Sunday. “I’ll be forever thankful for the support you showed me every step of the way and I’ll always cherish the relationships I built there and the memories I created with my brothers. I believe with all my heart that I gave my all as a Volunteer. I’m truly grateful for the time I had at UT.

“My journey at UT has come to an end. This decision was incredibly difficult, and truthfully, not something I expected to make this soon. But I trust God’s timing, and I believe He’s leading me where I need to be. Even though, this chapter is ending, a new chapter has begun and I am committed to UCLA!”

It’s a wild college football world out there.

Related: Breaking: Nico Iamaleava Announces Final Commitment Decision