Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel turns to quarterback Nico Iamaleava (8) after their post game interview after winning the Citrus Bowl NCAA College football game on Monday, January 1, 2024 in Orlando, Fla. against Iowa. Saul Young/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Tennessee Football Drops Out of ESPN's Top-25 Following Nico Iamaleava's Departure

Originally posted on Tennessee Volunteers on SI
By Caleb Sisk | Last updated May 9, 2025 1:55 PM ET

Tennessee has dropped out of the way-too-early top-25 rankings following Nico Iamaleava's departure from the team during the Spring.

The Tennessee Volunteers have fallen out of the way-too-early top-25 made by ESPN after Nico Iamaleava entered the transfer portal and committed to the UCLA Bruins. The Vols lost many pieces to the draft and the transfer portal while bringing in a limited number of transfers.

Jermod is recognized on the @PFF_College preseason All-America team @Jermodmccoy #GBO pic.twitter.com/TRuMrwwV0t
— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) May 7, 2025

Tennessee will have a tough schedule and will be forced to work through adversity with their backs against the wall, and the opportunity to make some noise and prove the critics wrong.

This article first appeared on Tennessee Volunteers on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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